By Dan Ambrose: Promoter Gary Shaw thinks that former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (51—5-1, 32 KO’s) will beat World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO’s) on December 18th in Quebec, Canada. In an interview by Stephen Edwards at Boxingtalk.com, Shaw says “I think Pascal is making a big mistake by fighting Hopkins. I have all the respect in the world for Hopkins. I think he is going to beat Pascal. I hope I’m wrong, because of our [referring to his fighter Chad Dawson] rematch clause but that’s how I feel.” You have to wonder whether Shaw might still have hurt feelings towards Pascal because of his win over Dawson last month on August 14th.
Hopkins-Pascal
Hopkins says he’s going to make history against Pascal
By Dan Ambrose: Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO’s) thinks he’s going to make history against WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO’s) when they meet up in December. Hopkins, 45, thinks he can win yet another title before he one day retires. However, Hopkins is going to have to go back in the time machine and find some missing talent if he wants to get by Pascal, because he’s been looking pretty average recently in wins over Enrique Ornelas and Roy Jones Jr.
Hopkins and Pascal agree to terms for a December 18th fight in Quebec
By Eric Thomas: 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO’s) and WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO’s) have agreed to terms for a December 18th bout in Quebec, according to boxing news from Dan Rafael of ESPN. Hopkins, who has looked fairly pedestrian in his last two fights, says he expects to have the contract signed by this Friday. This is a win-win fight for Pascal, 27, because a fight with Hopkins give him a good payday but without the risk involved in fighting a younger and arguably tougher opponent like Lucian Bute or Tavoris Cloud. Of course, Pascal could always elect to fight an immediate rematch with two-time light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson but Pascal doesn’t want to take that risky fight until he absolutely has to.
Hopkins vs. Pascal in December on HBO
By Jim Dower: WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO’s) could be facing 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO’s) in December o HBO, according to boxing news from RDS.ca. The promoter for the 27-year-old Yvon Michel says that Golden Boy Promotions, Hopkins’ promoter, has approached him for a fight between Hopkins and Pascal.
Hopkins interested in Pascal bout
By Eric Thomas: 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KO’s) is interested in fighting WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-1, 16 KO’s), in the latest boxing news. Pascal, 27, previously mentioned Hopkins’ name as one of the fighters that he would be interested in fighting next before he takes on Chad Dawson in a rematch next year. Pascal defeated Dawson by an 11 round technical decision on August 14th, and is looking to get an opponent with a big name for his next fight. Although all of Canada is clamoring for a bout between Pascal and IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, neither of those fighters appear at all interested in that fight right now.