23 Years Since Bernard Hopkins Ended Félix 'Tito' Trinidad's Undefeated Streak

On September 29, 2001, a pivotal moment in boxing history unfolded at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was the day when Bernard 'The Executioner' Hopkins faced off against Flix 'Tito' Trinidad in a highly anticipated middleweight unification match.

Background and Build-Up

The fight, billed as 'And Then There Was One,' was initially scheduled for September 15, 2001, but was postponed due to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The event was rescheduled for September 29, 2001, just 18 days after the tragic incident. This match aimed to unify the middleweight titles, with the winner becoming the first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler.

Flix Trinidad, known for his impressive career in the welterweight and super welterweight divisions, had recently moved up to middleweight. He had defeated notable opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Bernard Hopkins, the WBC and IBF middleweight champion, was seeking to extend his title defense record and unify the titles.

The Fight

The match began with both fighters feeling each other out, trading jabs in the early rounds. Hopkins started to gain momentum from the third round onwards, using his jab effectively and outboxing Trinidad. Despite Trinidad's aggressive efforts, particularly in the sixth round where he backed Hopkins against the ropes, Hopkins maintained his dominance.

As the fight progressed, Trinidad's energy waned, and he became increasingly exhausted. In the tenth round, Trinidad came out aggressively but was unable to land significant blows. Hopkins capitalized on this, landing several huge punches, including a right to the chin that left Trinidad stunned. The final blow came in the twelfth round when Hopkins connected with another massive right, sending Trinidad to the canvas. Trinidad's father, Flix Trinidad Sr., entered the ring and instructed the referee to stop the fight.

Aftermath

The victory marked a significant milestone for Bernard Hopkins, who was named the 2001 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year. For Flix Trinidad, this loss was his first professional defeat, ending his undefeated streak. Following this, Trinidad went on to have a few more fights, including victories over Hacine Cherifi and Ricardo Mayorga, before eventually retiring from boxing in 2009.

Trinidad's legacy remains strong, with many considering him one of the greatest Puerto Rican boxers of all time. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.