Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins is his name. Surviving at any cost is his game. His record, 39-1-2, 28 KO's speaks for itself, in more ways than one. There is the marquee name that stands out, that of one Roy Jones, Jr., to whom Bernard lost a competitive fight many moons ago. The only other loss, in his professional debut, even many more moons ago, (Trinidad was all of fifteen at the time). Everything in between is really an inconsequential blah, begging Antwun Echols' and Keith Holmes' pardon and all...

So, we come to this night, to this particular fight. Bernard is a 36 year old man, with a twisted past, and an even more twisted future. In my very humble opinion, and as I stated back in May when I reported live from the Trinidad-Joppy fight, Bernard is in trouble and he knows it! His behavior since the beginning of this tournament has been abominable, and I really don't care who wants to make excuses for him, I am not buying into any of them.

I love boxing, and unless something escapes me, this is a SPORT! It is not about race, creed, color, nationality, sexual orientation, hair styles, or any of that. Two men, (or women), will agree to fight each other, will train to the best of their abilities, will show up on fight night and will enter the ring ready to go at it against each other for however many rounds they have been contracted to fight. Is that not the general concept?

Granted that nowadays the hype machine takes center stage for major fights, even for the not so major ones. Granted that show boating is kind of marketable, catchy and in some instances, cute. Granted that management teams and promoters go all out to sell tickets to their events, but I do believe that on this one they may have crossed the line.

I have read Hopkins' recent account, or should I say his attempt at an explanation as to why he threw the Puerto Rican flag on the floor at not one, but two, Press Conferences. I read it and even debated it at some length with a buddy of mine, who happens to be a well liked and respected professional boxer. Guess what? I am not buying it! Hopkins is wrong, and no matter how he attempts to justify his actions, they are still wrong and disrespectful of all boxing fans, but mainly of the Latino fans and in particular of the Puerto Rican faction.

I have also heard that since the National Anthem was booed there is some justification for the flag incidents. It has been widely spread that Puerto Rican fans booed the Anthem, and horrors! How could they? Guess what? The Puerto Rican fans, and all others who booed, were booing the horrendous yelping of this young woman, who through relation to a boxing official was given the honor of singing our anthem on that fateful nite. Puerto Rican fans, particularly Tito fans have been exposed to renditions of the Mexican National Anthem as well as our National Anthem in the past and I don't recall any booing incidents. So, let's call a spade a spade, and deal with the truth: the girl just couldn't sing! The booing was the message from the fans: please don't give up the day job! Plain and simple.

It is of interest to me how much has been debated about competition in boxing within the last six months or so. The "Roycott", regardless of how successful, seems to have called a lot of attention to the fans' growing impatience with Mr. Jones Jr. and his opponents, with the level of his competition. Some of that impatience seems to be directed at Shane Mosley as well, and do we need to discuss Oscar and his latest fling, that farce against Castillejo?

So, back to that humble young man from Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico, who cannot ever be questioned about the level of his competition. His name is Felix Trinidad, and his record states forty wins, no losses, with thirty three KO's. Those who say he has a glass chin, a sentiment which appears to have faded quite a bit lately, seem to overlook the zero losses indicated in his record. Those who question his power, at 154 pounds or any other weight class so far, don't seem to pay attention to the thirty three KO's the record also attests to. But the record, as it stands in numbers, does not indicate the level of this fighter's competition. Let's re-visit it, shall we?

Felix became an IBF Welterweight champion at age 20, knocking out then champion Maurice Blocker in two rounds. He defended his title against the likes of Hector Camacho, (44-2-0 at the time), Yory Boy Campas, (56-0), Oba Carr, (32-0), Freddie Pendleton (40-20-4), Pernell Whitaker, (40-2-1), and Hugo Pineda, (36-1-1). He also challenged seasoned veterans and champions like Oscar de la Hoya, (31-0 at the time), #1 contender Mamadou Thiam, (33-1-0), William Joppy, (32-1-1), and several others along the way. From February of 1999 until now, out of Trinidad's seven opponents, five were champions, and all seven combined had a record of 5 losses. Yes, I did say combined total, five losses. Folks, that spells competition to me, real competition! (For the same period, Hopkins has fought one champion and the combined number of losses of his opponents is ten).

It is my position that had it not been for Felix Trinidad and his determination to fight only the best of the best, the public outcry that now demands more of guys like Jones and even Mosley, would not be taking place. Trinidad has taken himself to the next level, has elevated his game, and in the process has taken the sport of boxing along for the ride. Whether we want to admit it or not, and I know there are many haters, Felix has set a new standard by which all fighters will be measured from now on. He has done so in and out of the ring as well, much to his credit as a human being as well as a boxer. His life has been exemplary to date, and no matter how many times he has been provoked by the acts of malcontents like Vargas and Hopkins, he has remained in control and always a class act.

Let's just hope that Mr. Hopkins will be able to remain in control of himself on September 15th and that he comes to fight, not to incite or to further ignite the fire. Madison Square Garden will be on full alert;  Don King has publicly expressed concerns regarding this event, and now I sense that Bernard has been advised or has advised himself, to stick to boxing, as his statement seems to indicate. Ultimately, that is what it's all about, and all differences will be settled inside those ropes, where there won't be any singers, any flags, any fans. Just two men, fighting for whatever it is that makes them go for it, in what could very well be the fight of their careers, perhaps even the omega of their professional lives.