Félix Trinidad and Bernard Hopkins gave their fans a small preview of what they can expect this coming Saturday, September 29th, when they meet in the Middleweight Championship finale at Madison Square Garden in the Big Apple.

Not surprisingly, Hopkins was sneered by the very vocal pro-Trinidad fans in attendance, and his frustration was quite evident. Will he react the same way on Saturday?

Here is what Hopkins had to say:

"I might not be what you want me to be, but I am what I want to be - a man. And when it is all said and done, we can sit here, I am not going to try to talk over you, (the hecklers cheering for Trinidad), and things like that, but I'll tell you what. When it's all over with on September 29, just be prepared to be what I am, a man, and say, 'Good fight, champ.' And if it is not the way that I say that it is going to be, then I am that same man that will say the same thing that I just said; I am hoping that you all would. Because no matter what happens, no one out there, or no one up here, except Trinidad, is going to be in the ring except the referee. Now whatever happens after that, if you all are not satisfied with what happens after that, then it is Armageddon. If you don't know what that means, look it up in the dictionary."

"Let me tell you what war means, because I don't want anybody to be offended. I've been asked a lot of questions about, do you feel that this is the right time to wear that bandana? [with WAR emblazoned on it], which I had made up about a month ago before the World Trade Center. My war started first. I am sensitive to what happened [the terrorist attacks]. But don't take it to the point where I am not caring because I don't do things amongst men to be seen. Whether it $200,000, whether it's $300,000, whether it's a dollar, right there, if it is not sincere (Hopkins is referring to contributions that Don King said he, the Trinidads and Hasim Rahman will be making to relief efforts). So nothing is going to impress me. What impresses me is sincerity. That is more than any fighter gives for the sake of "I gave this, I gave that." I give from here [pointing to his heart]. So let me tell you, when it is all said and done, you are going to respect the man. And there is going to be no excuse."

"You're going to say, (referring to the media) 'Well you know, it was the biggest upset.' Well write it. Then 'Oh, Trinidad had five babies out of wedlock.' Write it.

"I am going to wind it up with this right here: If you didn't have a chance to cook it, don't need to cook, but just like any other execution, everyone is entitled -that is waiting to get executed- to what you call a last meal. Some want steak and potatoes, some want lobster, or whatever they want, but I found something special for Trinidad. I had to ask some of my Spanish friends in Philadelphia: 'What is your favorite food?' They said: Rice and beans.

"Let me tell you, there is enough for you all (referring to the Trinidad fans in attendance). I have a few more bags in the car. But again, just like many politicians, you got... (the crowd really jeering now).

"Hey, Don, I love it. I got them riled up, don't I? That is reverse psychology because I should be hollering over them. They are hollering over me now. Just like any politician, you got terms. Nothing lasts forever. He's been a great champion. (Crowd jeering).

"They are good, aren't they? You know about them beans, don't you? See, you know Don King did that, having these guys here. Gave you all them free passes to get in here. You see the behavior of uneducated people. You see what I am saying? They know they are supposed to be working. Oops. Let me tell you, I hope everyone is going to come out and enjoy the fight. See the fight. Talk about me, I can be all that you want me to be, but you can't say that I can't fight. (Frustrated.) I'm leaving."

Tito's response:

I want to tell you there will be another victory for Puerto Rico. That is going to be a very big day for us. Puerto Rico will be four for four." (Referring to the four Puerto Rican fighters in the September 29th card).

"As far as my fight, my father has said that I have trained hard for this fight, and I like to train hard for every fight. But on this occasion I want to show Bernard Hopkins that Tito Trinidad and the Puerto Ricans are to be respected." (The crowd cheers loudly).

"(Talking to Hopkins) You have been doing many things that neither I nor other Puerto Ricans like, and you know what they are. You know what they are. I am not going to repeat them. But I am going to remind you of them with my punches in the ring. I have promised that to my people that support me, love me, and that follow my career. And I will tell you again. You will respect either the easy way, or the hard way. That is how I feel, that is how I say it, and that is how I am going to do it. September 29 will be a great day for Puerto Rico. It would have been September 15, but you got lucky. They gave you two more weeks so that you can shine the belts for me. I will be taking them with me to Puerto Rico on September 29th."

"And I'll tell you something else. It's possible that in the ring, when I win, you won't want to hand over the belts that belong to you. Don't worry, I came prepared. I have replacement belts, just like yours. And if you don't give me yours, I will take out mine so that the public can see my three championship belts that night; so my people, my public... I want to let you know that I feel great. I am very positive, and September 29 will be a great day for Puerto Rico".

"Thank you very much, and I love you very much. And that which is promised is a debt, and I will pay my debt."

Fight fans, there you have it; the latest volley between these two champions. Judging by their individual reactions, I'd say Round 1 goes to Trinidad...

In four more days, there will only be ONE!

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