A few hours after the world was supposed to end as predicted by a lunatic, Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins (52-5-2 32 KOs) made his second trip to the Bell Centre in Quebec, Canada for His rematch with Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-2-1 16 KOs). On the line were Pascal`s WBC, IBO, and Ring Light heavyweight titles. Harold Camping (lunatic) would not have been considered crazy if He predicted Bernard Hopkins becoming the oldest fighter to win a major title, based on the controversial draw between Hopkins and Pascal last December. As a matter of fact, many voices in boxing had Hopkins winning the first encounter and expected the same type of gritty performance out of the Executioner as He has done so many times before. In the first fight, Pascal came out quickly and by round 3 had put Hopkins on the canvas twice. Hopkins, the old veteran would pretty much dominate the rest of the fight with his wisdom and craftiness only to walk away with a draw.
In Saturday night’s main event, Round one (or round 13 depending on your perspective) saw limited action with Hopkins only landing 2 out of 11 punches and Pascal landing just a few more but being slightly busier. Rounds 2 and 3 were close, so you could have probably split them 1 round apiece. Pascal rocked Hopkins in the Fourth and Bernard was clearly on unsteady ground as he tried to stave off Pascal`s attack. HBO`s Harold Lederman had the fight 39-37 in favor of Pascal after the fourth round. Hopkins, somewhat of a “prophet” himself, called Pascal a 4 round fighter to his face in their sit down interview with Max Kellerman (HBO`s Faceoff) and he would be right as Pascal seemed to fade and Hopkins would pick up the pace and take the fight to the younger champion. In round 6 Hopkins hit his groove and started picking off Pascal with accurate lead straight right hands and tied up Pascal when he needed to. The Executioner even started showboating a bit and taunting Pascal, getting in his face as the round ended causing Pascal to lose his cool. In traditional Hopkins fashion, the taunting didn`t end there as Bernard started the Seventh with a set of push-ups to show up his younger opponent, even getting a chuckle out of Referee Ian John-Lewis.
Ian John-Lewis would be busy all night long because, after all this is a Bernard Hopkins fight, which aren’t always pretty but usually entertaining, even more so with what was at stake and the accomplishment that laid ahead for Hopkins, trying to become the oldest title holder in the history of boxing. Rounds 9 and 10 were more of the same as Hopkins was busier, picked his spots and used his ring smarts when he needed to tie up Pascal. Rounds 9 and 10 also saw Bernard connect with a right cross that had Pascal stumbling and caused his gloves to touch the canvas on both occasions. Both should have been ruled a knockdown, but it was another miss by a referee in a championship bout which also happened in Pacquiao`s win over Shane Mosley when Mosley shoved the pound for pound champ to the ground only to be ruled a knockdown by the usually reliable Kenny Bayless. The twelfth round was exciting as Pascal found some life, pulled out all the stops and had Hopkins hurt again by a big looping right hand. Hopkins did enough to hang on as the round and fight concluded at the bell.
What should have happened in their first meeting came to fruition on Saturday night as all 3 judges ruled in unanimous fashion (115-113, 115-114, 116-112) for the “OLD” champion from Philadelphia. Bernard “B-Hop” “The Executioner” Hopkins had done it. The old veteran not only showed Pascal, his critics and the world what to do in the ring, but also how to get in an opponents head before and during the fight as well. A boxing lesson in every sense of the word. In his post fight interview with Max Kellerman, Hopkins expressed his desire to fight until the ripe young age of 50, singling out Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute as his next 2 possible opponents. Jean Pascal also spoke with Kellerman and talked of a third fight with Hopkins but from what we saw in these first 2 fights, I don’t think the results would be any different. Even a lunatic could predict that!
Earlier in the evening “Bad” Chad Dawson (30-1 17 KOs) collected another win in a slumberfest of a fight against Quebec`s hometown contender Adrian Diacanu (27-3 15KOs). Dawson`s legendary trainer Emanuel Steward asked his fighter for more aggressiveness but it seems as if that isn’t “Bad” Chad`s style. I used to be high on Dawson, He looks as if he has all the tools but no killer instinct. Soft, content, no heart. He reminds me of a Porsche, except no one installed a gas pedal.
Joey Santana can be reached at theboxingkidd@verizon.net
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