Boxing - The Sweet Science

[mr.mark]

hi mrs. peel

i think that bernard hopkins fought the "fight of his life" in order to beat trinidad last september. in other words, it took that kind of a performance to win.

i think it is very likely that hopkins will not have another "fight of his life" up his sleeve when the two meet again.

trinidad had no excuses for his loss, yet he had many. to clarify, there were real reasons that trinidad was distracted going into that fight, but he never cited any of them. i like that. he accepted his defeat like a true sportsman. and that will probably serve him well in a rematch.

george foreman mentioned something very basic that trinidad should be doing in order to beat hopkins. did you hear what that was? foreman said that when tito finishes punching, he should take one step to either side, and not stand in front of his opponent. that's key, imo.

he also said that trinidad does use good foot movement, but after he connects, he comes straight forward, again neglecting to use sideways movement.

foreman also criticized trinidad when he started bobbing and weaving. he said it was wrong to do that with a shorter man, that in effect, he was placing himself within the shorter fighter's range. tito did not persist with the bobbing and weaving, but i sure appreciate foreman's insights.

i enjoyed your comments on trinidad's performance, mrs. peel. tito showed patience when needed, and effective aggressiveness. imo, he looked happy to be punching someone again. trinidad enjoys hitting his opponent and watching their lights go out. it's his job.

i would like to see trinidad in at least one more fight prior to a hopkins rematch. i'd like to see him take some punches, which didn't really happen in this last fight.

trinidad is used to being hit. he has been on the seat of his pants and gotten up to win. so he knows what a big punch feels like. i think it would be good for him to get hit a few good shots and not be stopped. this will prepare him in the best possible way, which as we all know is mentally.

:)

mark