New York, NY (BoxingGurus.com) - In an atmosphere that can only be compared to a World Cup soccer match, all one could see when looking around the legendary boxing Mecca, called Madison Square Garden, was a sea of Puerto Rican flags. There were many beating drums and constant chanting before and throughout the fight.
Felix "Tito" Trinidad (40-0, 33 KO) proved to the world that he could carry his devastating power up to at least 160 pounds. Trinidad disposed of the now former WBA Middleweight champion, William Joppy (32-2-1, 24 KO), by knocking him down in the 1st and 4th rounds, and finishing him off in the 5th round. Trinidad will now move on to face the IBF and WBC Middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins on September 15 at Madison Square Garden.
"He came in good condition...like great fighters do," said an exuberant Trinidad. "But I knew I was going to do it."
In the 1st round, Joppy began early to establish his jab and gain control of the round. But it didn't take Trinidad long to test out how well his left hook would do in the Middleweight division. Trinidad caught Joppy at 2:40 of the 1st round with an amazing four punch, left-right-left-right combination putting Joppy on his back for only the second time in his career. Joppy did get up but was basically saved by the bell as he was out on his feet and holding on for dear life when the bell rang.
Trinidad began to establish his jab and control the tempo in the 2nd round. Trinidad was still connecting with both left and right hooks, as Joppy's hands were not up all the time. It appeared almost that Joppy was asking Tito to throw his power shots.
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Trinidad drops Joppy to the canvas. (AP)
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By the 3rd round, the effects of the 1st round knock down seemed to be gone. Joppy took control using his jab and even connecting a few solid three-punch combinations.
The 4th round brought more fireworks as Trinidad threw three solid right hands setting up a crushing left hook that send Joppy to the canvas for the second time in the fight. Joppy again beat the count but again looked totally out on his feet and was in survival mode for the remainder of the round.
In the 5th, and what would prove to be the final round, Trinidad caught Joppy early with a solid left-right combo that staggered Joppy slightly. Moments later Trinidad landed two huge right hands that sent Joppy to the canvas for the third time. Amazingly, Joppy got up again but after falling into the ropes in his attempt to get up referee Arthur Mercante Jr. had seen enough and stopped the fight at 2:25 of the 5th round.
Trinidad was dominating every aspect of the fight when the bout was stopped. Trinidad was up 39-35 on all three scorecards and had out-landed Joppy 80-49 in power punches. Trinidad closed the show landing 18 of 26 (69%) power shots.
"He has a hell of a punch...I didn't think his punching power was that devastating, but it was," said a disappointed Joppy. "I couldn't come back from it. He was relentless and the better man tonight."
"Hopkins is going to come well prepared, but when I hit him the fight will be over," said Trinidad.
TELEVISED UNDERCARD:
In what has to go down as one of the worst fights in Heavyweight history, former WBO Champion Chris Byrd (32-2, 19 KO) won the vacant USBA Heavyweight Title by a unanimous decision over Maurice Harris (18-10-2, 9 KO). Byrd must now face David Tua within 90 days to determine the official number one contender for the IBF Heavyweight Title.
Limited exchanges marred this bout as both fighters waited for the other to start the exchanges and that led to them mostly doing nothing more than look at each other in the middle of the ring. Byrd, a light-hitting southpaw, did knock down Harris in the 6th round by what appeared to be a fairly soft punch. Harris tried to tie-up Byrd the rest of the round, as he did appear hurt. To put it blunt, the rest of the fight is not even worth talking about.
The judges score the fight clearly in favor of Byrd 118-109, 118-109 and 117-110. BoxingGurus.com, who did stay awake for this bore fest at ringside, scored the fight a bit closer at 116-111 for Byrd.
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In a rematch of a title fight that ended in a no-contest in August of 2000, Vernon Forrest (31-0-0-1, 25 KO) won the vacant IBF Welterweight Title with a dominating unanimous decision over "The Shark Hunter's Son" Raul Frank (23-3-1-1, 12 KO).
The first Forrest/Frank fight ended in the third round because of a gash over Frank's right eye. Since the fight did not go the mandatory 4 rounds, the fight was ruled a no contest. Due to other random injuries and postponements this fight has now finally happened.
Forrest just flat wore down Frank and landed cleaner and crisper punches when the two fighters exchanged punches. Frank was visibly tired by the 9th round and really only had his jab working for him throughout the fight. Forrest is a slick boxer and used good head movement to slip Frank's jab and land 2-3 punch combos. Forrest out-landed Frank 261-196 in total punches and 179-101 in power punches.
The judges at ringside were all in agreement and had the fight scored 118-110, 118-110 and 120-108 for Forrest. BoxingGurus.com, also at ringside, had it 118-111 for Forrest.
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The WBA and WBC Women's champion, and proclaimed pound-for-pound champion, "The Coal Miner's Daughter" Christy Martin (43-2-2, 31 KO) won a majority decision over Kathy "The Wildcat" Collins. Martin used superior boxing skills by out-jabbing Collins and chasing her around the ring, as Collins was back peddling and staying away from the more powerful Martin.
Throughout the fight, Martin landed many more power shots and did a good job working the body against the less experienced Collins. Martin outlanded Collins 174-105 in total punches and 38%-28%. The judges' scorecards were closer than the fight appeared. The cards read 98-92 (Martin), 97-93 (Martin) and 95-95. BoxingGurus.com, who was ringside for the fight, scored it 100-90 for Martin, giving every round to Martin.
UNTELEVISED UNDERCARD:
Former two-time WBA Middleweight champion Julio Cesar Green (25-4-1, 17 KO) fought to a draw against Charles Whittaker (17-11-1, 11 KO). This 8-round Middleweight contest featured limited action and lacked the excitement of the previous undercard bouts. Green, who is the only man to beat William Joppy, looked unmotivated and sloppy, never taking charge in this fight. The judges' scorecards read 77-75 (Green), 78-74 (Whittaker) and 76-76.
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In a WBU Welterweight title bout, champion Michele Piccirillo (35-1-0-1, 23 KO) suffered a very bad cut in the 3rd round over his left eye by a head butt from challenger Elio Ortiz (19-5-0-1, 15 KO). The head butt was ruled to be accidental by referee Steve Smoger. The fight continued throughout the 4th round, but at the end of the round, doctor Billy Latham called a stop to fight, as he believed the cut was too serious to continue. By New York City rules, if a fight goes less than half of its scheduled rounds, because of an accidental head butt, the fight is to be considered a technical no contest. Through four rounds, Piccirillo was leading on the judges' scorecards 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38.
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NABA and NABO Junior Welterweight champion Felix Flores (17-2, 12 KO) successfully defended his titles by scoring a TKO at 2:34 of the 4th round against Gerald Gray (17-6-1, 9 KO). Flores dominated this fight from the opening bell, skillfully out boxing Gray and controlling the tempo. Flores knocked down Gray in the 4th round and Gray did get up, but was inactive and taking serious punishment. Referee Pete Santiago then stepped in and stopped the fight.
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NABO Featherweight champion Daniel Seda (17-0, 15 KO) overcame a 6th round knockdown to score a TKO at 2:30 of the 9th round over Nana Yam Konadu (41-5-1, 32 KO). Seda knocked down Konadu in the 1st and 3rd rounds, but the veteran Konadu bounced back to put Seda down to the canvas in the 6th round. From the 7th round on, it was all Seda, who closed the show was big right hook sending Konadu to the mat. Konadu did beat the count, but referee Mike Ortega stopped the fight. With this victory, Seda becomes the #1 contender for current WBA Featherweight champion Derrick Gainer.
