Moments ago at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec, Canada, WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal retained his title with a questionable majority draw over living legend Bernard Hopkins over twelve rounds. Pascal was credited with knockdowns in the first and third before seeing his momentum halted as Hopkins took command and appeared to do enough to grab the victory.
Hopkins was the underdog heading into the fight, as has often been the case with him, and he was coming off of an extremely lackluster unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr. in a foul-infested bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this past April. That particular contest was filled with more rabbit punches and questionable tactics than real action and the 45-year old Hopkins lacked any real signs of liveliness.
<--- Slideshow: Bernard Hopkins bullies Pascal but suffers questionable draw
Against Pascal it looked as though Hopkins would be in for another long night as he was dropped in the first round by a looping right hand from the Haitian-Canadian that sent him sprawling along the ropes. Hopkins motioned to referee Michael Griffin that he had been hit in the back of the head but it had no effect on the ruling as he found himself in an early deficit on the cards.
In round three Hopkins was again dropped, this time by a very legitimate punch, as Pascal again again him on the ropes as he wound up with a sweeping left hook. A delirious Hopkins, who had not suffered a knockdown in sixteen years dating back to his first fight against Segundo Mercado in Ecuador, rose and tried to shake the ill feelings off but you go the sense that this simply wasn?t the Philadelphia stalwart?s night.
But then something rather extraordinary would happen as Hopkins gathered his senses from round 4 on and began to take control of the fight. Looking like a man twenty years younger than his actual age, Hopkins went into his bag of tricks as he began timing his 28-year old foe and stepping up his activity level.
It was vintage stuff as Hopkins began connecting with sneaky rights and effective shots to the champion?s ribcage. Hopkins? work to the body paid off in dividends as he had the look of a man smelling blood. By the later rounds Hopkins was in complete control and outside of a few sharp counter punches from Pascal he dictated the action as the minutes closed.
American judge Steve Morrow scored the bout in favor of Hopkins with a 114-112 tally but judge Daniel Van de Wiele and judge Claude Pacquette had the bout 114-114 and 113-113, respectively. Pascal retains his title and sees his record drift to 26-1-1 with 16 stoppages while Hopkins? remarkable ledger now reads 51-5-2 with 32 knockouts.
After the bout an extremely bemused Hopkins tried to come to terms with the judging.
“I dominated the fight,” Hopkins said. “I threw a lot of combinations. This was a sure enough robbery. I took him to school.”
Asked if he was interested in a rematch, Hopkins seemed to question why it would have to take place, obviously feeling confident in the performance he had produced just minutes earlier.
?I?m too dangerous for anyone. It took me nine months to get this fight because they wanted me to wait around and get old.?
Told by Showtime announcer Jim Gray that he had suffered a few solid punches from Pascal, Hopkins seemed to shrug his shoulders and mentioned that Pascal should have been able to land because he was ?the older fighter?. While obviously down on not claiming the victory, Hopkins left with a resounding statement that nobody can refute.
?The world saw it.?
Seconds later Pascal took the mic and also claimed his confidence in victory.
?Of course I believe I won the fight,? he said. ?It wasn?t my best fight but Bernard likes to fight dirty, ugly. He?s always coming in with his head.?
Word from ringside has Golden Boy Promotions? CEO Richard Schaefer still furious at the judging. It was noted that the WBC will be looking to issue an immediate rematch.
Regardless of what the cards say this was another triumph for Hopkins, who continues to marvel in his 23rd year as a professional.
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
