MIAMI -- Bernard Hopkins took another swipe Tuesday at Puerto Rico's support for fellow middleweight boxer Felix Trinidad Jr.

Hopkins became a villain to many who will be watching the title unification fight against Trinidad on Sept. 15 when he took a Puerto Rican flag from Trinidad's hands and stomped on it during their promotional appearance Monday in New York.

Hopkins -- the IBF and WBC middleweight champion -- and WBA titleholder Trinidad showed up at a Miami park on Tuesday to promote their fight. Scores of Trinidad's fellow Puerto Ricans greeted him by waving the island's flag and chanting his nickname: "Tito, Tito, Tito."

"You are waving those flags high now," Hopkins said. "On Sept. 15, they will be flying at half-staff."

Trinidad doesn't want to make the flag incident an issue, but he seemed visibly upset at Hopkins' antics.

"I don't want to keep bringing it up," said Trinidad. "I am even willing to forgive him. But it doesn't matter, wherever you are from, a flag should be respected."

Hopkins sees the fight against Trinidad as a way to cross into the mainstream.

"My career is a blueprint of Marvin Hagler's," Hopkins said. "Nobody really gave Hagler the respect he deserved until he fought and beat John 'The Beast' Mugabi, who was considered invincible.

"I've been denied greatness. That will change Sept. 15."