Is a Bernard Hopkins vs. Tito Trinidad Rematch in the Works?

The old February 2005 issue of Ring Magazine lies faded on my end table...the pages are dog-eared, and a coffee stain from a beverage long since digested adorns its cover.

Tonight, I resurrected the four-year-old issue after hearing the latest rumors from the ever-changing and constantly surprising boxing world.

Yes, it looks as though Golden Boy and Don King Promotions are once again—up to no good.

Rumor has it that former Puerto Rican sensation Felix Trinidad (42-3, 35 KOs) and father time's favorite top-10 pound-for-pound fighter, Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs), are working on a rematch event for November of this year.

The bout will be at the 168-pound super middleweight level, rather than Trinidad’s old weight of 147.

Surprisingly, it's Hopkins and his company, Golden Boy, who are initiating the on-going discussion with Don King Promotions for this proposed rematch.

First, let me say that Hopkins is without a doubt my favorite active fighter at present, and I have tons of respect and admiration for him.

However, it’s been eight long years since Hopkins defeated Trinidad by a 12th-round knockout to capture Trinidad’s WBA middleweight title, and, well, let's just say ol Tito leaves something to be desired lately.

That first fight, was a one-sided affair as Hopkins used his jab, movement, and quick flurries to dominate the smaller Trinidad for 11 rounds, before knocking him out in the 12th.

So the question begs an answer: Why is he wasting his time with Trinidad when he could be fighting young bucks like Chad Dawson or even Paul Williams at 160?

Of course, the almighty dollar and the never-ending quest for super-fights will blind even the most seasoned and disciplined fighter's, and likewise their management.

Suspiciously, once again, money seems to be the fuel that drives Hopkin's latest promotional endeavor.

Hopkins has denied father time, he has plenty left in the tank at 44 years of age, if he wanted a challenging rematch, why not go after Jermain Taylor? They have a common denominator in Kelly Pavlik, a fighter who is the current middleweight champ but whom Hopkins easily dominated and embarrassed last fall.

The great "Tito" Trinidad, however, is easy pickings; he looked pathetic in his last fight, a 12-round decision loss to Roy Jones Jr. last year, and in my opinion would pose less problems for Hopkins this time around than last.

A fighter's prime when measured by years can be deceiving; it sometimes comes earlier for some than others.

Trinidad, now 36, has only fought five times in the past eight years and has lost three of them, his once stellar career is now in the winter of its years.

They say a dying man will grasp at a straw; if so, then my opinion is that Don King and Golden Boy Promotions are exceeding there grasp once again with this latest venture.

Armchair fans may buy into the hype that will no doubt be created by this, but we hard-core fans cannot be fooled.

With all due respect to Mr Hopkins, I feel he is being jaded by the sound of pay-per-views ringing in his ears.

Hopkins and his loyal fans—like myself—would be better served if he would seek a loss-avenging rematch, against the great Roy Jones Jr.

Maybe he has contemplated it, and possibly the thought of another loss to Jones at this stage of the game is too much of a burden for him to carry.

"I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope."

—Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Greek tragic dramatist (525 BC - 456 BC)

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