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Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins
Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins, billed as Dynasty, was a professional boxing match contested on December 18, 2010, for the WBC, IBO, and The Ring Light Heavyweight championship.[1][2] The bout was held on December 18, 2010, at Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and was televised on Showtime. BackgroundFollowing Pascal's upset victory over Chad Dawson, 45-year-old former champion Bernard Hopkins was soon named his next opponent. Within the first 48 hours of tickets being on sale for Pascal/Hopkins, more than 15,000 tickets were sold.[3] In preparation for the fight, Pascal spent forty days training in Miami.[4] Hopkins was looking to surpass George Foreman as the oldest boxing champion in history. The fightThe fight started at a good pace, with both fighters getting combinations and landing good shots. Hopkins was knocked down in the 1st round, and again in the 3rd. He complained that it was a blow to the back of the head that caused him to go down in the final seconds of the 1st, but the Montreal ref, Michael Griffin, scored it a knockdown. The knockdown was clearer in the 3rd, when Pascal tagged B-Hop with a left. Hopkins dropped to the canvas and got up with no problem. Pascal began to wear down and Hopkins picked up the pace, knowing he was down on the scorecards. The Canadian boxer was the younger and quicker but was not able to do much and was not that active. He was hit repeatedly in the final six rounds.[5] Hopkins launched a desperate flurry in the final round but failed to put Pascal down. "The 12th round was vicious," Hopkins said. "He looked to be tired from the sixth round. He was gasping. He held every time I got close. And I just kept coming forward throwing punches. He was holding on for dear life." The fight went the full 12 rounds, judge Steve Morrow scored it 114–112 for Hopkins, while Claude Paquette and Daniel Van de Wiele both scored it even (113–113, 114–114 respectively) resulting in a majority draw with Pascal retaining his titles. AftermathThere was some early debate over whether the Canadian and Belgian judges' cards had been altered, but that notion was discarded by both camps. Hopkins reluctantly accepted a draw on Pascal's turf, even if he felt he won—and insists he would if they fought again. Hopkins said he wants a rematch, but not in Canada. "Look at my record -- anyone I fought twice I destroyed," he said.[6] UndercardConfirmed bouts:[7] Televised
Preliminary card
Broadcasting
References
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