Hopkins vs. Pascal: If Jean gets off to a quick start again, he should earn another draw

By Boxing News - 05/06/2011 - Comments

Image: Hopkins vs. Pascal: If Jean gets off to a quick start again, he should earn another drawBy Dan Ambrose: I see the second fight between 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 Ko’s) and WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KO’s) as one that could very well end up as another draw or end with a controversial decision that leaves few boxing fans happy. The two fighters will be going at it on May 21st at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. The last time they fought in December 2010, Pascal got off to a fast start in the first half of the bout but then ran out of gas in the second half of the fight and had to settle for a 12 round draw.

This time around, I can see the same outcome. Pascal just isn’t built to fight hard for 12 rounds and he’s always been a fast starter because of his hand speed and power. Hopkins is someone that can’t compete with Pascal when he’s strong and full of explosive energy like in the early rounds. Hopkins has to take over once Pascal fades in the second half.

At that point Hopkins will dominate most of the second half of the fight and will make it either a draw or a close decision going either way. I don’t see this as a fight that will make anyone happy and I think the WBC blew it by forcing a rematch between them. I’d much rather see Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson or Pascal vs. Dawson again than seeing Hopkins and Pascal repeat their boring fight form last year. I don’t care that the fight got good ratings, it was still painfully boring to watch with a lot of wrestling on the inside and holding. I don’t care if Hopkins wins it this time. I just want this to be the last time they force this fight down out throats. I’d like nothing better for Hopkins to try and make it exciting but I can’t see that happening. I see him mugging Pascal again in a painfully boring fight. We will then see Dawson fight Hopkins five or six months later, if Hopkins agrees to take that fight.



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