If Tito hadn't ran into 2 defensive masters, could he have been a great middleweight?

Trinidad does not leave that round on his feet. There would have been nearly two minutes left for Hopkins to finish with a knockout, and he was intent on doing that. Watch that round again and you'll see Trinidad falling multiple times on his way to standing up. Hopkins would have pummelled him in under fifteen seconds from there.

 

the answer is no. Who would Tito have beaten to establish himself as a graet middleweight? there was noone.

 

If he fights Trinidad's style, then it's most likely going to a be a fight at mid-range. For all of Trinidad's power, him going to war is not like a Hagler-Hearns type way. Tito has always been a patient fighter who picks his punches well. That allows Hagler to mess up Tito's rhythm with his great jab.

Hagler fought Hearns that way because he had to, Hearns was a guy who could outbox damn near anyone from the outside, so Hagler had to force a brawl.

I'm a bigger Trinidad fan than a Hagler one, but I honestly can't see this fight being too competitive.

 

Head to head and in his prime I would give him the edge over Pavlik and Abraham

 

most efficient spot on post :good

 

If Oscar had your faith the fight would have happened a while ago.

 

The fight would have been interesting, but Oscar's decisions are many times a mystery. From what I understand he wasn't willing to fight Trinidad if he was not taking the lions share of the split. That could have a lot to do with ego, but common sense tells me a 50/50 split (which Trinidad offered) would be enough to boost his ego and avenge that loss.