Old school versus new school: Whenever I hear those particular terms, I think about my childhood growing up in Los Angeles.
Even though my growing up directly translates into going to Catholic school, working class parents, and living in the suburbs, I still consider myself old school. For example, old school ? I walked every day to and from school. New school ? walking to school ? not necessarily these days.
Old school, I used to tape record music off the radio. New school, I have an Ipod. You see where I?m going with this? Old school ? Los Angeles Lakers, Magic and the show at the Forum in Inglewood. New School ? Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe, and the Staples Center.
For anyone that follows the NBA, the season starts very, very soon. But enough nostalgia. On December 18th, two fighters ? one old school ? Bernard ?Executioner? Hopkins, 51-5, 32 KO?s goes up against new school ? Jean Pascal, 26-1, 16 KO?s. With Pascal?s WBC Light Heavyweight belt at stake, old school versus new school.
Who is going to win?
Let?s talk new school first.
As far as Pascal is concerned, I?ll just call him the youngster. When I went through my DVR list, I still happened to have Pascal?s last fight from August against ?Bad? Chad Dawson. As I listened to the HBO broadcast, both Larry Merchant and Emanuel Steward made reference to Pascal?s particular Roy Jones, JR., style of fighting. I am not suggesting that Pascal is the new Roy Jones, JR.
In his prime, Jones? speed and athleticism was and truly a gift. He had excellent timing and made his KO?s look effortless. More importantly, Jones? speed complimented his athleticism. When you recall Jones? fighting prime, he would have his hands down and would pull of a KO hook to his opponent?s head. There aren?t too many boxers that can pull off that type of fighting style.
Similarly, once Steward and Merchant made reference to Jones, JR., I couldn?t help but see how it?s a correct comparison. In his fight against Dawson, Pascal looked strong, but there were times in the mix, that he got caught with Dawson?s cross that wobbled him
