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Champion Hopkins: Trinidad Will Prevail in Bout Against Joppy

LAS VEGAS , Nevada – May 10, 2001 --Bernard Hopkins admits he won't be an impartial observer.

The International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council middleweight champion will be ringside Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City when World Boxing Association 160-pound champ William Joppy defends against Felix Trinidad. The winner of the Joppy vs. Trinidad fight, which will be available on pay-per-view and at several closed-circuit sites in Las Vegas, is scheduled to meet Hopkins Sept. 15 in New York.

For reasons related to money and prestige, Hopkins hopes it's Trinidad he'll face in September. And, wishful thinking or not, he feels it will be Trinidad.

"You'll be surprised when Trinidad walks through Joppy so easy," Hopkins said during a conference call this week. "I'm expecting a long, tedious, back and forth fight until Joppy figures he needs a knockout to win.

"Trinidad is eventually going to make Joppy fight. Joppy is then going to have to sit down and fight and that's when Trinidad will show he's the better puncher."

Trinidad, who will be fighting for the first time at 160 pounds after winning world championships at 147 and 154, is 39-0 with 32 knockouts.

Joppy, the WBA champion since regaining his title from Julio Cesar Green in 1998, is 32-1-1 with 24 KOs.

Wednesday at Caesars Palace, Trinidad was a minus 300 betting favorite. Joppy was a plus 220. It's a minus 160 that the fight will not go its 12 scheduled rounds and a plus 120 that it will.

For those interested in watching on pay-per-view, the fee is $45. At least eight Las Vegas casinos -- including Caesars, the MGM Grand, the Flamingo Hilton, The Beach, the Monte Carlo, the Luxor, the San Remo and the Excalibur -- will have the fight available on closed circuit, with a $40 fee.

"I'm the underdog because he's the marquee fighter," Joppy said at the final pre-fight press conference. "I've been in this situation before. I'm used to it. I'm going to take his crowd away from him."

A large Puerto Rican contingent of fans is expected at the Garden to cheer for their native son, Trinidad.

"I appreciate the consideration and love people have for me," he said. "I'm going to win a good fight."

Trinidad, 28, has the better experience, having competed in 19 previous title fights and having defeated a number of excellent champions including Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas.

Joppy, 30, has no such names on his ring resume.

"I have bad memories about the Garden," he also said, referring to his 1997 loss to Green at the fabled site. "I want to get back here and get a win."

Hopkins, whose stock is up after taking the WBC title from Keith Holmes last month, doesn't think Joppy will do it.

"Joppy's more of a cutie-pie," he said. "Trinidad is going to come in bigger than Joppy and he's going to manhandle him.

"It's in Trinidad's best interests to trap Joppy in any corner or on the ropes and let his hands go (and) get into a war.

"I do care who wins and I expect Trinidad to do what he says he'll do."

The fact that Trinidad has been down six times in his career may be a plus, Hopkins added.

"He's fought on guts and heart since the Maurice Blocker days," he said, referring to Trinidad's first world title fight, in 1993. "He's a straightforward, determined fighter.

"He knows what to do when he gets in trouble and isn't having his way. He weathers that storm, which he's known for."

While the 39-2-1 Hopkins anticipates a Trinidad victory, he isn't certain the Sept. 15 date is ironclad.

"Don't be surprised if Trinidad finds a way to get out of the (middleweight) tournament and fight Roy Jones instead," he warned.

But if there is a showdown to unify the middleweight titles, Hopkins, as you may be able to guess, believes he will win.

"Come on, I want to beat Trinidad," he said. "I've been a great fighter who didn't have a dance partner to prove it to you. Now I'm in a position to make three or four million (dollars) and, business-wise, I've got my Puerto Rican flag.

"I see myself winning the tournament."

Hopkins knows that a Joppy victory over Trinidad would lessen the significance of the proposed Sept. 15 fight.

"I've been around a long time," he said. "But now the middleweight division is ready to give birth and I'll get a chance to get the respect I deserve, which is why I need Trinidad to do his job.

"It'll be an upset if Joppy beats Trinidad and me and becomes the undisputed champion."

His advice for Saturday's combatants?

"Punch each other as hard as you can," Hopkins replied.

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