Hopkins Won’t Change His Tone

In a moment of political incorrectness stunning even for boxing, Bernard Hopkins showed up at the undisputed middleweight championship news conference Wednesday wearing a black skullcap that read “War.”

He made no apologies for the message, even though he and his opponent, Felix Trinidad, have been training at gyms mere blocks from where the Twin Towers once stood and even though their original matchup was postponed because of the terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of as many as 6,900 people.

“You can’t turn on any radio or TV station that doesn’t talk about what happened Sept. 11,” said Hopkins, who will fight Trinidad on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. “It is a war. The United States is preparing for war against who? Anybody that’s hiding or protecting terrorists. I know who I’m fighting. I’m fighting Felix Trinidad, and it’s going to be a war.”

Such absurd rhetoric and showmanship is a mainstay of boxing promotion, a proven way to sell tickets. Hopkins’ rant still stood out Wednesday, barely two weeks after many in the sports world adopted a softer tone in recognition that a nation was in mourning.

But then the fighter who goes by the nickname “The Executioner” has never been one to embrace diplomacy.

Two months ago, he enraged thousands of Puerto Ricans--including Trinidad--when he stomped on that island’s flag during a news conference at San Juan’s Roberto Clemente Coliseo. About 100 police officers and several barriers were unable to restrain the angry crowd, which chased the Philadelphia fighter into his locker room. On Wednesday, he did it again. And again.

At one point, he extended his middle finger to the large Puerto Rican entourage that cheered Trinidad throughout the news conference.

The group booed him throughout, but especially when he said he wanted to offer Trinidad a last meal. He then plunked down a bag of beans and a bag of rice in front of the fighter.

Trinidad vowed revenge.

“You’ve been doing things that we Puerto Ricans don’t like,” Trinidad said through an interpreter. “And you know you’ve been doing that. You will feel my punches in the ring.”

Promoter Don King stood nearby, wearing a glittering jean jacket with sleeves featuring American-flag stripes, and “United States of America” fashioned in rhinestones across his shoulders. King rambled for more than an hour about how “we can’t let the terrorists win twice,” and how New Yorkers should “pick themselves up and dust themselves off” and attend the fight.

Tickets are still available, though, in this city so ravaged by tragedy.

The fight was originally scheduled for Sept. 15 but was delayed two weeks because of the attacks. Already, extra security was planned at the Garden, thanks to Hopkins’ flag-trampling. But now, everyone is on heightened alert.

Trinidad, 28, is the unbeaten World Boxing Assn. middleweight champion. Hopkins, 35, is the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation champion. The four-man tournament was reduced to two when Hopkins won a decision over Keith Holmes in April, and Trinidad knocked out William Joppy in May.

Trinidad, who has won titles in three weight classes, is 40-0 with 33 knockouts. Hopkins is 39-2-1 with 28 knockouts.

The trash talk has flowed both ways.

“You’re lucky to have that crown for two extra weeks,” Trinidad said. “You better shine it for me. I’m going to take it to Puerto Rico.”

Trinidad plans to carry the U.S. and Puerto Rican flags into the ring Saturday, and both fighters expressed their sympathies to the families and friends of the World Trade Center victims. Hopkins was careful to point out he had his “war” cap made two weeks before the attacks.

King and two of his fighters, Trinidad and heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, will donate $500,000 each to a fund benefiting the victims’ families and the New York Fire Department.

But that sentiment quickly gave way to promotion: “I want to see a fire truck running up and down the streets of New York with the names [of Trinidad and Rahman] on it,” King said.