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William Joppy vs. Félix Trinidad

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History in the Making
DateMay 12, 2001
VenueMadison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBA middleweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer William Joppy Félix Trinidad
Nickname "Tito"
Hometown Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. Fajardo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Purse $1,100,000 $10,000,000
Pre-fight record 32–1–1 (24 KO) 39–0 (32 KO)
Age 30 years, 8 months 28 years, 4 months
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 158+3⁄4 lb (72 kg) 159+1⁄4 lb (72 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA
Middleweight Champion		 WBA and IBF
Light Middleweight Champion
The Ring No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
2-division world champion
Result
Trinidad defeated Joppy by 5th round TKO

William Joppy vs. Félix Trinidad, billed as History in the Making, was a professional boxing match contested on May 12, 2001, for the WBA middleweight championship.[1]

Background

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In March 2001 Don King held a press conference at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, to announce a three fight Middleweight World Championship Series in order to produce the first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler was stripped of the WBA title in February 1987. The first bout would see the longest reigning of the Middleweight titlists Bernard Hopkins face Keith Holmes, with WBA champ William Joppy pitted against unified Light middleweight (and former long reigning welterweight) champion Félix Trinidad. King compared the four contenders former greats in the division like Sugar Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler saying "We're talking about legends here, pure greatness, Felix is the eye of the hurricane. The question is: Can he conquer the elements?"[2] Trinidad was regarded as the favourite to win the tournament.[3]

On 14 April, Hopkins scored a dominate decision victory over Holmes moving into the final to await the winner between Joppy and Trinidad.

Joppy would appear unimpressed with Trinidad in the build up saying "I think he's a little overrated, I want to show he doesn't belong in the ring with me." Trinidad, a 3-1 favourite to win the bout, predicted a knockout victory.[4]

The fight

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The crowd of more than 18,000 at Madison Square Garden would witness a dominate display from Trinidad in his middleweight debut. Knocking Joppy down in the 1st 4th and 5th rounds before Arthur Mercante, Jr. opted to wave off the contest with 30 seconds left in the 5th.[5]

Aftermath

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Speaking after the bout Trinidad said "You guys saw tonight I'm a true middleweight. I beat the best middleweight tonight, and I will beat Hopkins". Joppy would credit Trinidad saying "He's a great champion, I never thought he could hit that hard. I never thought he would have the power that he had coming from 154 to 160 pounds. I've never been hit like that before."[6]

With the victory Trinidad moved on to the final against Hopkins as well becoming the first former welterweight champion to win a middleweight title, since Roberto Durán against Iran Barkley in 1989.

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[7]

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ "William Joppy vs. Felix Trinidad". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  2. ^ Lena Williams (15 March 2001). "PLUS: BOXING; Middleweights Descend on Garden". New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. ^ Mark Hale (15 March 2001). "TITO'S THE JEWEL OF GARDEN TOURNEY". nypost.com/. New York Post. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  4. ^ Associated Press (11 May 2001). "Joppy not impressed by Trinidad". espncdn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  5. ^ George Willis (13 May 2001). "TRINIDAD DESTROYS JOPPY". nypost.com. New York Post. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  6. ^ Associated Press (12 May 2001). "Trinidad unbeaten in 40 fights". espncdn.com. New York: ESPN. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  7. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by William Joppy's bouts
12 May 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Félix Trinidad's bouts
12 May 2001 		Succeeded by
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