Sports News And Updates: Bernard Hopkins Rises From Rocking Chair to Face Jean Pascal

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Bernard Hopkins Rises From Rocking Chair to Face Jean Pascal

Filed under: WBC, Golden Boy Promotions, Boxing Rumors, HBO, Showtime

Former world champion Bernard Hopkins had just finished watching an Aug. 14, boxing match, during which WBC light heavyweight (175 pounds) champion Jean Pascal of Canada out-hustled visiting, previously unbeaten southpaw WBC interim titlist Chad Dawson, of New Haven, Conn., for an HBO-televised, 11th-round, technical unanimous decision victory before his screaming hometown fans at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

At ringside was Romanian-born southpaw fellow Canadian, and IBF super middleweight king Lucian Bute (26-0, 21 knockouts) to watch Pascal, who expressed interest in fighting 38-year-old ex-champion Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) of Wales, as well the 45-year-old former titlist Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KOs) of Philadelphia.

"It was late at night, and I had my [false] teeth over here in a jar, and I'm sitting in my rocking chair and I'm watching the fight because I'm a fan," said Hopkins. "I'm minding my business, and the next thing I know..."

Hopkins then heard Pascal's post-fight interview.

"Listen, I'm the boss in town. Right now, I'm one of the best in the world. And if Lucian Bute wants to fight me, then he has to challenge me," said Pascal, a winner of five straight fights, two by knockout, since losing a December 2008, unanimous decision to England's WBC king Carl Froch (26-1, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBC super middleweight (168 pounds) title.

"I want Joe Calzaghe. Anybody. I want to prove that I'm one of the best. I'm Jean Pascal, and I'm about to invade America," said the 28-year-old Pascal (26-1, 16 KOs). "I want the best in the world. [Bernard] Hopkins. Anybody. I want to prove I'm one of the best."

Hopkins was stunned and pleased at the same time.

"You want to fight me?" said Hopkins. "Then we're back in business, baby."