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Posted on 05/12/2021 By: Hector Franco “Tito Trinidad may be the deadliest puncher in these divisions since Ray Robinson.” – Larry Merchant 20 years ago, on May 12, 2001, at Madison Square Garden, the second half of Don King’s middleweight world championship tournament took place when Puerto Rico’s Felix “Tito” Trinidad (42-3, 35 KOs) faced off against William Joppy (40-7-2, 30 KOs) for his WBA middleweight title. Trinidad, 28, entered the fight with a record of 39-0 with 30 knockouts, and Joppy, 30, came in with a record 32-1-1 with 24 knockouts. The tournament would crown boxing’s first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler. Longtime reigning IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins had taken care of business in the first bout of the tournament, winning a wide unanimous decision over Keith Holmes to unify the WBC and IBF titles.

Puerto ricoUnited statesTrinidad and tobagoPuerto ricanDemetrius andradeDon kingRay leonardThomas hearnsRay robinsonJose nicolas medinaKeith holmesWilfred benitezEmile griffithOba carrFernando vargasHector franco