MONTREAL (December 12, 2012) – Only two more days before Laval’s popular Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) finally returns to the ring at the Bell Centre in Montreal, away since his heart-breaking loss 19 months ago to Bernard Hopkins, which cost him his World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight title belt.

Contrary to his normally calm approach to a fight, Pascal feels anxious and nervous over his time away from the ring going into Friday night’s fight against an opponent who also boxed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, as Pascal did, 2004 Polish Olympian Aleksy Kuziemski (26-2-1, 16 KOs). It is not the fear of his opponent’s attack – Pascal has never been afraid of another fighter – rather the anxiety of having lost his bearings, not being able to fulfill the expectations of the loyal Quebec public. He is well prepared, as skilled as ever, and he will give his best effort on Friday night.

Pascal’s potential world title fight on HBO against WBC World Champion Chad Dawson, at least for now, remains down the road. All that Pascal is focused on right now is Friday, Dec.14, and his tough European opponent.

Lemieux against Russian Ayrapetyan

As previously announced, Friday evening’s co-feature will showcase relentless Montreal slugger David Lemieux (27-2-1, 26 KOs) in a 10-round fight. His opponent is 31-year-old Russian Alberto Ayrapetyan (20-3-0, 9 KOs), who resides and fights out of Germany. Ayrapetyan has suffered only one defeat before the limit, losing to the great middleweight champion of the world, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, in the 11th round of their WBC Latino Championship fight. Ayrapetyan, as Lemieux, is of Armenian origin. Lemieux speaks French, English, Armenian, Spanish and Arabic; Ayrapetyan is also multilingual, according to his Facebook page, fluent in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Armenian and Russian. These two should find it easy to understand each other the ring.

Alvarez vs. 2011 European champion Danny “The Big Mac” McIntosh

Englishman Danny “Big Mac” McIntosh (13-3-0, 7 KOs), 32, will challenge talented North American Boxing Association (NABA) lightweight champion Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (10-0-0, 6 KOs). McIntosh was the Great Britain light heavyweight champion from 2008 to 2009, as well as European titlist in 2011. He lost his last two fights by technical knockout in valiant efforts against aspiring world champions. In May of 2011, he lost his European title in the eighth round to Eduard Gutknect (24-1-0, 9 KOs) in Germany. The judges’ scoring indicated a close fight going into the eighth round. In a similarly contested fight last April in Liverpool, England, McIntosh was stopped in the fifth round by his United Kingdom compatriot, Tony Bellew (19-1-0, 16 KOs). McIntosh’s three career losses (his other defeat was to current World Boxing Organization 175-pound champion Nathan Cleverly) have been to some of the best light heavyweights in the world.

“Storm has so much talent and determination,” said Alvarez’ promoter, GYM president Yvon Michel, “it has been tempting to move him faster. He has demonstrated that, despite having had only 10 professional fights, he can do as good as the best in the light heavyweight division, even against those with twice his experience.”

Bizier, McGuinness and Rivas, confirmed opponent

Quebec favorite Kevin Bizier (18-0-0, 13 KOs) will back into the ring for the second time this year, matched Friday night with welterweight Doel “Amish Guy” Carrasquillo (16-22-1, 14 KOs), of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Toronto’s unbeaten Logan McGuinness (18-0-1, 9 KOs), a protégé of Adam Harris (Hennessy Sports Canada), will defend his NABA super featherweight title against Carlos Manuel Reyes (23-1-1, 15 KOs), from the Dominican Republic.

Quebec heavyweight Oscar Rivas (11-0-0, 6 KOs), who has fully recovered from a recent hand injury, takes on 36-year-old Hungarian invader Lazlo Peczeli (4-2-1, 3 KOs).

The opening fights on the stacked “Fast & Furious” card pits spectacular featherweight prospect Marc “Gwapo” Pagcaliwangan (1-0-0, 1 KO), fighting for the second time straight time in Montreal, against Hungarian boxer Richard Voros (4 -10-0, 1 KO), followed by heavyweight battle between Ottawa favorite Andrew Gardiner (5-0-0, 2 KOs) and Attila Nagy Tibor (4-5-0, 3 KOs), of Budapest, Hungary.

Friday night’s event will be available for viewing by fans in the comfort of their homes via Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV in Canada, as well as on WealthTV in the United States.

Tickets for the Dec. 14 event at the Bell Centre are on sale now, as well as for the three remaining GYM boxing series shows this season, the innovative and popular “Fast and Furious.” Tickets, starting at $36.00, are available to purchase at the Bell Centre, or at evenko.ca, or by calling GYM at (514) 383.0666. Despite the magnitude of The Return of Jean Pascal, GYM resisted the urge to raise ticket prices.

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc:

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers, supported by coaching and management for competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has produced 106 events, including historical ticket sales and PPV viewership for Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television with Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the United States. A total of six different GYM boxers have participated in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal the WBC light heavyweight crown in 2009.

MONTREAL (November 5, 2012) — It is now confirmed that, after 17 months of waiting, the World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion from 2009 to 2011, Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs), of Laval (Quebec, Canada), is returning to the ring on Friday, December 14 at the Bell Centre.

Loyal fans of the popular Fast & Furious Boxing Series will benefit from the long awaited return of the world-class fighter Pascal, who will face Aleksy “Ali” Kuziemski (23-4, 7 KOs) Dec. 14 in the second of the four exciting matches featured on the Fast & Furious Series 3.0.

Pascal hasn’t fought since losing on points to Bernard Hopkins in May of 2011 at a packed Bell Centre. His absence on the international scene left a gaping hole in the light heavyweight division. Pascal has two option proposals for 2013: the first is a fight on Showtime against International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs) in February, the other a rematch against WBC champion Chad Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs) on HBO in March.

Before he challenges for another world championship, Pascal must return to the various association’s rankings, a position he lost due to his prolonged absence. Only an impressive victory against Kuziemski will give Pascal optimism for 2013. “After a few unsuccessful tries,” Pascal said “I know that this time is correct. My training is going well, my health is excellent, and I started hurting my sparring partners in training. In 2013, I will be world champion, crushing anybody who tries to stop me.”

Kuziemski has a lot of experience in amateur boxing having won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. He (Poland) and Pascal (Canada) participated in the 2004 Olympic in Athens, Greece. Kuziemski lost on points to current World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Beibut Shumenov. A veteran of 27 professional, Kuziemski held the prestigious European title from 2008 to 2009. He unsuccessfully challenged for world title twice, stopped in the 11th round by former World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (38-2, 30 KOs), and in the fourth by reigning WBO titlist Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KOs) last year.

Kuziemski won his last fight in March of this year against Leo Tchoula (9-2, 8 KO) by second-round technical knockout in Poland. “Kuziemski is a solid professional who learned to box in the great Polish amateur system that has been very successful in Europe,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. He also fought in World Championship. He certainly has the tools, maturity, and experience to provide a solid examination for our boxer (Pascal).”

David Lemieux in co-feature

Relentless slugger David Lemieux (27-2-1, 26 KOs), of Laval, fights a middleweight opponent to soon be announced in the 10-round co-feature. We already know who he is but a contracts administration is preventing GYM to disclose his name for the moment. A hint: he has fought over a 10 rounds fight against universally acclaimed middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez. Lemieux is a Montreal fan-favorite because of he is a powerful, offensive-minded fighter without compromise.

Eleider Alvarez vs. Edison Miranda

Multi-talented North American Boxing Organization (NABO light heavyweight champion and adopted Quebec son, Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (10-0, 6 KOs) takes on heavy-handed Colombian Edison “Pantera” Miranda (35-8, 30 KOs) in a 12-round NABO title defense. Alvarez faces the stiffest test of his young career in the 43-fight veteran, 31-year-old Miranda. Miranda wanted Pascal as his opponent and he was promised a shot, if he defeats his Dec. 14th opponent. Since his third-round, technical knockout loss to Lucian Bute for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight title in 2010, Miranda moved up to fight in light heavyweight division. Although he’s lost three of his last five fights at 175-pounds, losing top leading prospects, Miranda’s power and Kamikaze-style of fighting represents a constant danger to everyone and keeps spectators fascinated. Alvarez’s coach, Marc Ramsay, commented, “A while ago, ‘Storm’ asked me to fight Miranda because he hates his attitude and personality. This will be a very personal fight for him; a very emotional battle ahead!”

Kevin Bizier & Logan McGuinness remain active

Also in action in the Dec. 14th event is fearsome slugger and reigning NABA welterweight champion, Kevin Bizier (18-0, 13 KOs), from Quebec city, who returns to the ring in a fight allowing him to remain active in preparation for his very important fight on the February 8 Fast & Furious show. Another NABA champion, super featherweight Logan McGuinness (18-0-1, 9 KOs), of Orangeville, Ontario, a protégé of Adam Harris, will defend his crown in a 12-round bout. McGuinness is not a stranger in Montreal, where he has fought five times, knocking out Drumondville’s Benoit Gaudet in 2011.

GYM will present a total of seven professional fights with more details coming shortly.

The Dec. 14th event will be available for viewing by fans in the comfort of their homes via Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV in Canada, as well as on WealthTV in the United States.

GYM wishes to thank its key partners, including Pierre Bibeau of Loto Quebec, Robert Dépatie of Videotron, Pierre Dion of TVA Sports, Jacques Aubé of Evenko, Charles Benoit and Martin Spalding from Astral Radio, Coors Light, Marc Roberge, Martin Trudel and Guy St-Pierre of Tonikgroupimage, Marcel Savard of BLlitho, Houston restaurants, Adidas and Rival. Almost all have been with GYM since its beginning and their participation is as important as it’s appreciated.

Tickets are on sale now for the Dec. 14 event at the Bell Centre, as well as the entire GYM boxing series, the innovative and popular “Fast and Furious.” Tickets, starting at $36.00, are available to purchase at the Bell Centre, or at evenko.ca, or by calling GYM at (514) 383.0666. Season tickets for the next three Fast & Furious series events for a significant discount on reserved seats.

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About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc:

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers, supported by coaching and management for competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has produced 106 events, including historical ticket sales and PPV viewership for Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television with Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the United States. A total of six different GYM boxers have participated in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007, and Jean Pascal the WBC light heavyweight crown in 2009.

After the hand injury suffered by former Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal that forced the postponed the fight with IBF champion Tavoris Cloud, the potentially explosive co-feature pitting Adonis Stevenson and Donovan George will be rescheduled quickly as per Dan Rafael of espn.com

The fight was to take place on August 11th in Montreal could land in late August or Early September and the winner will be in line to face IBF champion Carl Froch

The much anticipated August 11th IBF Light Heavyweight title bout bout between champion Tavoris Cloud and Jean Pascal has been postponed due to a hand injury suffered by Pascal.

“Don (King) called and told us the fight has been postponed but we’re continuing to train,” said Cloud’s trainer Al Bononni from Cloud’s training camp in Ohio.

“It’s disappointing, however, I don’t believe he has a hand injury,” Cloud said. “We believe he was unprepared for the fight on Aug. 11 so he had to use politics and try to maneuver himself out of an ass whipping. I’ll wait for him. It gives me more confidence because I know I got the edge on him and I’m not gonna give up the edge. I’m gonna keep the pressure on him.”

“I just can’t believe he is doing this,” Bonanni said. “I think he has known for some time that he was not fit to fight for whatever reason. He hasn’t fought for (more than a year). We would have just destroyed him. We would have gone through him like (expletive) through a goose. Whether it’s his hand, or his weight, or he has no (expletive), is of no consequence to us. It’s just typical in the life of Tavoris Cloud. We’re always ready and then something comes up.

“We want to reschedule the fight. If he needs 30 days or whatever, we’ll give him the time.”

“(Pascal) has tried hard to fight through it with a cortisone shot and therapy but (Tuesday) morning our doctor, Dr. Francis Fontaine, said he was not giving him medical clearance for the fight,” wrote Pascal’s promoter Yvon Michel

“Jean was in good physical condition, his weight was good, his training camp was excellent and he was on target for his preparation,” Michel said. “He has tried extremely hard to convince us to let him fight believing he could beat Cloud with one hand like he did when he beat Adrian Diaconu with a dislocated shoulder in December 2009 (but) we were not going to let him jeopardize his career taking a fight injured.”

“Tavoris is in great shape and training hard and anxious to fight,” Alan Hopper, King’s spokesman said. “He’s at Don’s camp in Orwell, Ohio, working very hard and ready for this fight. Showtime only called us and told us that the conference call was canceled. But it wasn’t canceled because of any issues with the Cloud side of things.”

“We would have 13-14 weeks in camp by the time of the fight,” Bonanni said. “Our weight is 181 pounds, so we’re in great shape and ready and then we heard Pascal advised that he had injured his hand in training, so he needs to let it mend.”

“We’re going to stick it out in camp and, hopefully, Showtime will be true to their word and deliver this fight,” Bonanni said.

“I learned my lesson,” Cloud said. “I’m keeping the edge this time. I learned from what I’ve been through. I went home for a little while and came back at the beginning of the year, plus I had to change from a short righty (Erdei) to a tall lefty (Campillo). We know how to train now when these fights get postponed. I’m still training, I’ll still go running. I’ll probably go hunting.”

Reliable sources have told 15rounds.com that legendary world champion Bernard Hopkins will be a guest color analyst for the August 11 IBF Light Heavyweight title fight between champion Tavoris Cloud and Jean Pascal.

The source intimated that it could be more then just a coincidence that the future Hall of Famer was tabbed by Showtime as Hopkins has shown a desire to fight on and he is still the biggest name in the Light Heavyweight division.

Hopkins has two memorable fights with Pascal with a draw and then his historic win last May to become the oldest man to win a world championship and a fight with Pascal could be a fight that Hopkins could very well be interested in.

Hopkins is sitting in for Antonio Tarver, who tested positive for a banned substance following his June 2 fight with Lateef Kayode. Ironically Hopkins has a decision win over Tarver.

NEW YORK (May 29, 2012) – A light heavyweight world championship showdown—potentially the division’s best matchup in years between two young fighters in their prime—has been confirmed for Saturday, Aug. 11, at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, when undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs), of Tallahassee, Fla., defends his title against popular hometown favorite and former World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight titleholder Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME®.

The co-feature will match budding Canadian knockout artist Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, (18-1, 15 KOs) of Montreal (Canada), against an opponent to be announced in a super middleweight bout.

Cloud is known as a no-nonsense power puncher, who comes right at his opponents with few frills. Pascal may not equal Cloud in work rate, but his footwork and explosive combinations make for a compelling matchup between ferocious punchers. Both men will be coming in to not only win, but to make a statement as the best puncher in one of boxing’s glamor divisions.

The 5-foot-10, 30-year-old Cloud will be making the fifth defense of the then-vacant 175-pound title he won via 12-round unanimous decision over Clinton Woods on Aug. 28, 2009. The hard-hitting, 29-year-old successfully defended against Glen Johnson (unanimous decision, June 7, 2010), Fulgencio Zuniga (unanimous decision, Dec. 17, 2010) and Yusaf Mack (TKO 8, June 28, 2011) before winning a controversial split decision over Gabriel Campillo in February.

“This fight with Jean Pascal is a bout I’m looking forward to,” said Cloud. “It’s going to be what I call a ‘Release the Kraken’ match. Everybody knows I come to fight. What I like about Pascal is that he doesn’t fool around either. When I look for him, he will be there, and the same goes for me.

“Fans like to see leather thrown with bad intentions, and that’s what they are going to get in Montreal on August 11.”

The 5-foot-10 ½-inch, 29-year-old Pascal is currently ranked No. 2 by” The Ring” and in the top 10 in three of the four major organizations. Since his first world title fight in 2009, Pascal has defeated Chad Dawson (via 11th-round technical decision in 2010), Adrian Diaconu twice and fought the legendary Bernard Hopkins to a thrilling draw in December 2010. In the second of back-to-back meetings with Hopkins last May, Pascal lost his title by a very close decision.

“First, I want to thank Tavoris Cloud for giving me the opportunity to fight for his IBF light heavyweight belt and to prove who I really am in the ring,” said Pascal. “He has shown true class seeking out the best challenger in the division and for this he has my full respect. Our styles make for the best, most explosive and spectacular fight possible in boxing. Having been away from the ring for more than a year, I am hungrier and more determined than ever to get back on top. Don’t miss it August 11 in Montreal. I am going to get back on the throne for good.”

Throughout a career that began in August 2004, Cloud has been a road warrior. He’s fought only three times in his native Florida. Pascal, conversely, has had all but two of his fights in Canada.

Stevenson has notched 15 knockouts in 19 professional fights in his climb up the rankings. The Canadian southpaw super middleweight is currently No. 2 in IBF, No. 3 in WBC and No. 7 in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

“I am so proud to be making my SHOWTIME debut fighting in this major event in Montreal,” said Stevenson. “I am on a mission to destroy anybody that has the courage to get in the ring with me. I am not looking for any favors or compassion. My goal is to show the world that I truly deserve to be on a major network fighting Carl Froch for his IBF belt. Watch me make a major statement August 11 on SHOWTIME.”

Trained by the renowned Emmanuel Steward, Stevenson got a late start in the professional ranks with a 2006 debut at the age of 29. Now a six year pro, Stevenson has maintained his penchant for knockouts as he’s stepped up the class of competition. In his last five starts, against opponents with a combined record of 107-8, he has overwhelmed them all, winning four of five inside three rounds. The lone exception is a ninth-round KO of Aaron Pryor Jr.

In all, 12 of his 15 knockouts have come inside three rounds.

The 5-foot-11, 34-year-old Stevenson won a WBC Silver belt with a second-round TKO over Noe Gonzalez (27-1 going in) in his most recent outing last April 20 at Bell Centre.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Famed trainer talks about Bernard Hopkins win over Jean Pascal

World Light Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins gets an award from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter for his historic win over Jean Pascal

Bernard Hopkins literally won one for the ages on Saturday night as became the oldest man ever to win a major boxing title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jean Pascal to win the WBC/Ring magazine Light Heavyweight championship before 17,750 mostly Pascal fans in a much anticipated rematch at The Bell Centre in Montreal.

Much the like the first encounter that took place on December 18th, Hopkins came out slow but unlike the first fight Pascal did not seem to want to take the lead as the two fighters landed very little in the first two frames. Pascal landed a big right that hurt Hopkins at the end of round three but he was unable to follow up and capitalize on that big shot. Hopkins shook that off and got into a rhythm which mirrored the first fight where Hopkins could not miss his foe with lead right hands and it seemed every time Hopkins would land that shot Pascal had a look of bewilderment and retreat. Hopkins started bullying Pascal around the ring and it was clear who was the elder in this battle.

In round’s nine and ten, Hopkins landed little shots that made Pascal’s gloves graze the canvas. Television replays showed that both should have been called knockdown but Hopkins did not get credit for either blow as referee Ian John Lewis ruled slips on both. Hopkins continued to sweep through the rounds as he started to feel his oats as he continuously mocked and taunted Pascal. Hopkins went as far as to start doing pushups in the middle of the ring before the ninth round began.

Again like the first bout, the final round was a toe to toe war as a desperate Pascal almost got the home run blow that he needed as he rocked Hopkins with a hard right that had the legend holding on.

Hopkins made it to the final bell guns ab-lasing as he waited for the historical tallies.

When they were read, Hopkins, 174 of Philadelphia won by scores of 116-112; 115-113 and 115-114 to become a world champion at age forty-six, surpassing the mark set by a forty-five year old George Foreman. Hopkins incredible record now reads 52-5-2. Pascal of Montreal is now 26-2-1.

Chad Dawson returned the scene of his only professional loss but this time had a better result as he scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Adrian Diaconu in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Dawson came out with a little more aggression then he has shown in previous outings. Diaconu obliged by not being particularly energetic as he was trying to figure not only the southpaw stance of Dawson but a five inch disadvantage.

Diaconu would mount short rallies at different points of the fight as he would land two and three punch combination’s but they were few and far between as Dawson was deft at tying up and working inside and would give back some solid shots of his own.

Dawson got back to boxing from the mid to late rounds and took most of the second half of the fight as he controlled the distance with the exception of a couple of brief instances in round’s nine and twelve where Diaconu landed some hard shots but they were one at a time and Dawson was able to escape the bout mainly unharmed.

Dawson of Hartford, CT won by scores of 118-110; 117-111; and 116-112 to raise his mark to 30-1. Diaconu of Montreal is now 27-3.

Follow all the action LIVE as Jean Pascal defends the Light Heavyweight championship of the world when he takes on Bernard Hopkins in a rematch. Hopkins will be attempting to make history as the oldest man ever to win a world championship. The action begins at 10 pm EST with a Light Heavyweight showdown of former champions Chad Dawson & Adrian Diaconu

12 Rounds–Light Heavyweight Championship–Jean Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KO’s) vs Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KO’s)

Round 1:…Not much…Pascal lands a right and a body shot…10-9 Pascal

Round 2: Pascal lands a left on the ropes..body shot…20-18 Pascal

Round 3: Pascal lands a left..2 body shots from Hopkins…Big Right from Hopkins…Jab from Hopkins..Good right…Body shot from Pascal...29-28 Pascal

Round 4: Hopkins lands a jab and a right…Lead right…Trading body shots…Hard right from Pascal…Big right from Pascal and Hopkins is hurt…39-37 Pascal

Round 5 Trading body shots…Pascal lands a left and right…Hopkins lands a left…Pascal lands left and body shot on the ropes..Hopkins lands a body shot..49-46 Pascal

Round 6 Hopkins lands a right at the start of the round…Good right…2 more rights…and another…Guys get warned for holding..Hopkins bullying pascal…58-56 Pascal

Round 7: Hopkins lands a big right..Right lead…Good left hook…67-66 Pascal

Round 8 Big right from Hopkins…right hand…Big right…76-76

Round 9 good right from Hopkins…Straight right…86-85 Hopkins

Round 10 Hopkins lands a left hook…Body shot from Pascal and 2 rights…Hard right…Pascal lands a left hook…95-95

Round 11 Big right from Hopkins…Pascal fighting desperate it seems…Hopkins landing flicking jabs…105-104 Hopkins

Round 12Big right from Pascal hurts Hopkins..Hopkins landing a right…115-113 Hopkins

115-113; 116-112; 115-113 BERBN

12 Rounds Light Heavyweights–Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO’s) vs. Adrian Diaconu (27-2, 15 KO’s)

Round 1 Diaconu gets in a little left…Diaconu 10-9

Round 2: Dawson working the jab…Good 1-2…1-2…Hard left wobbles Diaconu…19-19

Round 3: Dawson lands a combination…29-28 Dawson

Round 4: Dawson lands a body shot..Diaconu comes back with 2 shots…Uppercut from Dawson..Diaconu lands a right…38-38

Round 5 Dawson lands a left..Diaconu lands a left…right…Dawson lands a jab…Diaconu lands a left hook..Dawson lands a good straight left..Good combination..right hook..48-47 Dawson

Round 6:Dawson lands a uppercut as Diaconu comes in…58-56 Dawson

Round 7: Diaconu lands a right…right..2 body shots…Dawson lands a uppercut…67-66 Dawson

Round 8: Redness around left eye of Diaconu..Dawson lands an uppercut…77-75 Dawson

Round 9: Dawson throwing lefts..Hard lefts…Diaconu lands a big right and left…Dawson lands an uppercut and right hook..Diaconu bleeding from the nose…87-84 Dawson

Round 10:Diaconu lands a right…Dawson lands a right hook…Good left uppercut to the chin…97-93 Dawson

Round 11:Dawson getting back to some good boxing..lands a right hook…107-102 Dawson

Round 12 Diaconu lands a counter right..hard right..Dawson lands a left uppercut and a right hook..Dawson working on inside…Good uppercut…117-111 Dawson

117-111; 118-110; 116-112 FOR CHAD DAWSON

Bernard Hopkins’ diet apparently has never included a single potato chip or one of George Foreman’s cheeseburgers. Meanwhile, Jean Pascal sounds as if he has his own suspicions about what might be in the Hopkins diet. I’m only certain of one ingredient that Hopkins consumes morning, noon, night and every hour in between.

It’s defiance, a Hopkins’ preservative.

Hopkins finds it everywhere in his quest for the ages. Pascal seems to be a nice enough guy, but he unwittingly provided Hopkins with just enough of that age-old element when he suggested some sort of enhanced drug testing before their light-heavyweight rematch in an HBO televised bout fight Saturday night at Montreal’s Bell Centre. For Pascal, it was the rhetorical equivalent of Michael Moorer walking into a Foreman punch on that long-ago night when Foreman, then 45, became the oldest man to win a heavyweight championship.

Pascal gave Hopkins just enough of that defiant anger to prove them all wrong all over again. Hopkins finds it, manufactures it, anyway. But Pascal just made it a lot easier for Hopkins to seize on slights, imagined or real, which have driven him to maintain discipline that, at 46, could make him the oldest ever to claim a major title.

Hopkins has a chance at history, in part because he understands that a fight begins on the day it is announced. He has worked that psychological angle tirelessly, shamelessly and more effectively than anyone throughout a career that spans at least a couple of generations. Pascal, a Haitian-turned Canadian, was on a grade-school playground at about the time that Hopkins turned the trash-talk trade into a tactic. He was a 5-year-old when Hopkins made his pro debut in 1988. In other words, Pascal has only a learner’s permit in a game that Hopkins has long been a master

Ever since Pascal suggested drug- testing and Hopkins countered angrily in a predictably over-the-top tone, Pascal has been back-pedaling. A big step backward came during a conference call a week ago.
“I don’t think Bernard’s cheating,’’ said Pascal, who escaped 12 rounds against Hopkins with a majority-draw last December. “I said that at the press conference.’’

Then, Pascal said he told Hopkins: “Bernard, I know you’re a clean fighter.”

According to Pascal, Hopkins responded by saying: “Who am I to ask him that?”

Pascal says he wasn’t trying to offend Hopkins.

“I wasn’t going to be disrespectful,’’ he said. “ I just wanted to make sure that the fans’ voices were heard, to let them know that we participate in a clean sport. That’s it.’’

But in going politically-correct, Pascal’s implication was that the fans’ voices have included questions about performance-enhancing drugs. It’s slippery slope. Excellence in any sport these days includes questions about PEDs. From Tiger Woods to Manny Pacquiao, everybody hears them. Hopkins is hardly immune.

But for Pascal to raise the question just isn’t smart, especially when Hopkins is standing there. Above all, it just says that Pascal doesn’t know much about his opponent’s calculating, predatory nature. Hopkins’ vitriolic hyperbole included this shameless sales pitch: “Don’t be surprised if I kill him.’’

Weeks later, Pascal laughed at that one. He also dismissed the possibility of a defamation lawsuit from Hopkins, who implied that might be on the agenda after Saturday night’s closing bell.

“That just makes me laugh, because if he wants to sue me, I will file a complaint because he said he’s going to kill me,’’ Pascal said. “… He’s trying to make me quiet. But, that won’t work. I’m going to bark like a dog.’’
That’s exactly what Hopkins wants to hear.

Joe Calzaghe had it right. In December of 2007, Calzaghe quietly stood by and watched Hopkins taunt him as “a white boy” in a crowded press room in Las Vegas. A few months later, Calzaghe proceeded to beat him on the scorecards. Calzaghe didn’t leave many opportunities for Hopkins to nurture the defiance that has sustained him.

The talented Pascal, still a student, must not have been paying attention. He’ll pay for that inattention. The backpedaling that started in a conference call will continue in the later rounds Saturday night. Look for Hopkins to win a unanimous decision in a defiant, record-setting victory that will whip a younger man and – for now – the oldest one of all, Father Time.

Its 10 years since Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu 27-2(15) left his native Romania to turn professional in Canada. In a highly decorated amateur career Diaconu had won bronze at the 1997 World Championships and then two years later at the same event he upgraded to a silver medal before representing his country on the grandest stage of all the Olympics in 2000. He made his debut in 2001 and fought mostly in Canada, honing his skills and getting used to life away from his homeland for the next few years. That is until the spring of 2008 when he headed back to Romania to fight Chris Henry for the vacant WBC Interim Light Heavyweight title which he won on points. After a year out of the ring he lost his crown to Jean Pascal and also lost a rematch. Now Diaconu 32, is on the comeback trail and meets Chad Dawson on the weekend as chief support to the Jean Pascal-Bernard Hopkins 2 fight. He knows that to remain a factor in the division he needs to overcome Dawson. It won’t be an easy task, though he’ll hope to use his pressure & marauding style to smoother the wider skill set of Dawson. Here’s what Diaconu had to say.

Hello Adrian, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you last fought in October last year when you beat Omar Sheika, how did you feel after 10 months away? Were you happy with your performance?

Adrian Diaconu – After two defeats when I lost the title with Jean Pascal then I tried to get the title back and lost again. So was very hard for me to get back in shape. After two defeats it’s not easy. I came back strong. I fought Omar Sheika, I did a very good fight in my opinion. I’m happy.

Anson Wainwright – You’re fighting Chad Dawson on the Pascal-Hopkins 2 card. Can you tell us anything about that fight any what do you think of Dawson?

Adrian Diaconu – You know this last fight he didn’t prove much. I think he’ll come back strong. Right now I think he’s going to be ready for me.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the Pascal-Hopkins fight?

Adrian Diaconu -To be honest, right now I’m focused on my fight. It’s going to be an Interesting fight for sure like the first one. My preparation is to be ready for Chad Dawson. But I hope whoever is best wins.

Anson Wainwright – What have you done with your time since your last fight? Have you trained? What is your walk around weight at the moment?

Adrian Diaconu – No, no. I had one week off after the (Sheika) fight. Then I came back to the gym. Depends around 195-200.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your team. Who are your manager, trainer & promoter?

Adrian Diaconu – Promoter is Interbox, I manage myself and my trainers are Pierre Bouchard & Stéphan Larouche.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your younger days growing up in Ploiesti, Romania and how you first became interested in Boxing?

Adrian Diaconu – I was a little kid with a lot of energy and my father and teacher asked me to go and expand that energy in the gym.

Anson Wainwright – You had a very successful amateur career in which you represented your country at the 2000 Olympics and twice in the World Championships. What can you tell us about your amateur career?

Adrian Diaconu – I fought a lot of good boxers Sergio Martinez, Carl Froch. I fought the best in the world. Now I’m involved in something else so don’t look at the past.

Anson Wainwright – Lucian Bute is Romanian & fights out of Canada. Can you tell us about the relationship you share?

Adrian Diaconu – We’re good friends. We work out of the same gym. When we were younger we fought on the same squad.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us what happened for you to end up fighting in Canada?

Adrian Diaconu – There was Interest to go pro so I came to Canada. It wasn’t possible to box there (In Romania) at that time.

Anson Wainwright – How do you see the state of the Light Heavyweight division and where do you think you fit in?

Adrian Diaconu – I have a chance to prove I belong at this level with Chad Dawson. With a big win next weekend I’ll be in the mix.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do with your spare time? What are your hobbies and Interests? Do you go back to Romania often?

Adrian Diaconu – Fishing. Fishing is a good passion of mine. I go back to Romania every year.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Adrian Diaconu – Watch the fight!

Thanks for your time Adrian, good luck with your fight on the weekend.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Weekend thoughts – You have to give Andre Ward credit he put on a clinic Saturday night, he boxed outstandingly, he’s got speed to burn, his ring generalship was also very impressive. It’s a shame he doesn’t have a big punch, it’s the only thing missing. He’s come on leaps and bounds since the Super Six started. I can’t wait until the final against either Carl Froch or Glen Johnson. I’d favour Ward over either but both guys would bring their own set of problems for Ward. Credit to Abraham for at least having a go this time which is more than can be said for his fight against Froch. It’s tough to see where Abraham goes at 168 from here. It was mentioned he may go back to Middleweight where his strength was much more effective, at 168 he’s not able to bully the top guys. If he can get back down to 160 and get a few wins under his belt I’ll love to see him fight Dmitry Pirog or Sergio Martinez…It was good to see Chris Arreola get into good shape, he looked pretty impressive stopping Nagy Aguilera in three. He got a little wild trying to stop Aguilera but I’m sure his better conditioning helped him not gas out and allow him to keep up his assault. It was the lightest Arreola has been in since 2007…On Friday in England on Friday Prince Aaron won a barburner against Sam Webb to take the British title. Aaron stopped Webb in the final round. he first sprang to prominence last year winning Prizefighter. At 6’3 he holds huge physical advantages over every Light Middleweight.

IBF Cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham talks to 15rounds.com about Pacquiao – Mosley ; Pascal – Hopkins 2 and his own future prospects

Legendary Bernard Hopkins works out for his May 21st rematch showdown with Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal

Legendary Bernard Hopkins talks about many topics leading up to his May 21st rematch showdown with Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal

PART 2

Top trainer Nazim Richardson breaks down Pacquiao – Mosley as well as a preview of Pascal – Hopkins 2

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former Light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson will make his first appearance since his first defeat when he takes on Adrian Diaconu on May 21st as part of a Light Heavyweight doubleheader that will be coupled with the anticipated rematch between Bernard Hopkins and JeanPascal that will most likely land in Quebec City and be televised on HBO.

“This is no walkover fight for Chad,” Said Dawson’s promoter Gary Shaw. “Diaconu is a tough fighter, a good fighter. But Chad is with a new trainer now in Emanuel Steward and I think that will make a big difference in Chad’s fight game and his strategy. I think you’ll see a whole new Chad, a guy that can finish off his opponent.”

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that world light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal has reached an agreement with his promoter Yvon Michel which was the final minor hurdle to proceed with his May 21 rematch with former two-division champion and legend Bernard Hopkins

“We went to the bid because we had a deadline,” Michel said. “But Pascal has a minimum for each fight and a percentage [of profit]. We had to adjust the numbers for him to be happy, so we needed more time to come to the agreement, but there was never a doubt that he wanted to fight Hopkins again. There was never a doubt in our mind. He trusted us and his team. We just needed time. I already spoke to Richard and we will sit down and see the pros and the cons of where the show should be.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com a much anticipated rematch between world Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins has a just a few hurdles to clear before it comes to fruition on May 21st.

The two fought a controversial draw on December 18th in a bout most people believe that Hopkins deserved the nod.

The fight was broadcasted on Showtime and the rematch will be headed to HBO if completed.

“The deal, as far as the fight itself, we have the date,” Hopkins said, adding that he also had worked out his financial agreement with Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer. “Now we have to find a site. I’d love to fight in Montreal. I’d love to go where the best offer is for the fight. Montreal, fine. In Las Vegas, fine. I’m ready and I just want to settle the score. I want to set the record straight.”

Said Schaefer, “Bernard is on board with everything. Now I just need to work out the venue with [Pascal promoter] Yvon Michel.”

Michel said he was confident he would come to terms with Pascal on their side of the deal.

“We haven’t finalized with Jean Pascal yet but we are working on the details,” Michel said. “It will be a few days before we finish that. And we have to meet with Richard and talk about some other things, but overall we are pretty happy that we could do this.”

The WBC, whose belt Pascal holds, ordered an immediate rematch with the winner mandated to fight Chad Dawson next. However, there was the thorny issue of a contractual rematch that Pascal already owed Dawson, who lost to Pascal in August. The rematch clause allowed the 28-year-old Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KOs) to take an interim fight, which he did against Hopkins, before he would be obligated to face Dawson again.

However, Pascal-Hopkins II is a far more lucrative fight than Pascal-Dawson II. So Gary Shaw, Dawson’s promoter, quietly worked with Golden Boy, Michel and HBO to work out a deal under which Dawson will pass on the rematch for the time being, fight on the televised undercard of Pascal-Hopkins II and then get a shot at the main event winner if he also wins.

“I believe Gary was able to get his own license fee from HBO to have a fight with Dawson on the show with the guaranteed license fee for Dawson to fight the winner of Pascal-Hopkins,” Michel said. “Overall, I believe Gary Shaw understood what was the most popular thing to do and he negotiated for his side to make sure Dawson was taken care of. He was very cooperative. He fought for his guy, but he understood the complexity. I really appreciated how he worked on the agreement. He helped make sure we could do this rematch, which is the best for the weight division and for the fighters and the fans.”

According to Schaefer and Michel, Dawson’s undercard fight could come against either Montreal’s Adrian Diaconu (a former titleholder) or Librado Andrade, the Southern California resident from Mexico who is popular in Quebec; he considers Quebec a second home. Andrade has challenged Montreal’s Lucian Bute for his super middleweight title twice in the province.

“I believe that it’s a historic situation for me and things worked out the way I expected,” Hopkins said. “I think it’s good for boxing and good for us to settle the score. I’m just very excited and looking forward to breaking George Foreman’s record and making history. I can’t wait [until] May 21 to show people I beat him the first time and I will beat him the second time. I’ll be a few months older than I was last time, which should put [the record] even more out of reach.”

I changed my opinion of fighting in Canada when it comes to Montreal,” Hopkins said. “I’ll go to Montreal. Everything is based on the referee and the judges. It wasn’t the fans that voted in the fight. The Canadian people treated me very well in Quebec City. The thing was the referee and the judges, mainly the judges. The judges didn’t do the right thing and the WBC agreed with us and ordered the rematch. I can’t punish Canada for what the judges see or don’t see. As long as the judges are straight and the referee is straight with the way he handles things, I will go back to Canada.

“Richard and I got the money done. That was not an issue with us. But looking for a fight sight, Richard asked me if I would go back to Canada. I said yes, as long as the judges and referee are neutral.”

“The date is very important to Bernard. He does not want to wait,” Schaefer said.

“I’m glad HBO invited me back home to end my historic career,” he said. “I still have a few things I want to do. My dream hit list is Pascal, Chad Dawson if he wins and then I would like to clean out Canada by beating Bute at light heavyweight. That’s an impressive list put together for an old man.”

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that the WBC has ordered a rematch between Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins following their controversial draw on December 18th in Montreal.

“The WBC board of governors has voted in favor of ordering the immediate rematch between WBC champion Jean Pascal and emeritus champion Bernard Hopkins for the WBC light heavyweight championship of the world,” WBC president Jose Sulaiman wrote to the camps. “The winner of this fight has the obligation to fight Chad Dawson immediately without any intervening contest.”

“This is a great thing for boxing and hopefully fans will get to see another great fight with Pascal and I,” Hopkins said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to starting off the New Year by making history as the oldest athlete to win a major championship in any sport.”

“I’m very happy the WBC did the right thing,” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Hopkins’ promoter, told ESPN.com. “I think Bernard clearly deserves the immediate rematch. I feel very strongly that Bernard Hopkins won the fight. Now we just need to get it on again. I am sure that Bernard will leave no doubt that he is the light heavyweight champion. I’m going to be talking to [Pascal promoter] Yvon Michel and, based on the conversations I’ve had with him in the last few days, he and Jean Pascal are interested in the fight.”

Their could be a monkey wrench that would stand in the way of the rematch as Pascal has a rematch clause to fight Chad Dawson whom Pascal defeated last August.

“We have signed an agreement to fight Chad Dawson if HBO or Showtime is willing to pay a license fee the same or higher than the last time. So I don’t know,” Michel said after the Pascal-Hopkins fight, when asked which rematch they would pursue.

“Ken Hershman told me the fight was the highest-rated boxing event on Showtime in over three years,” Schaefer said. “The fact that this fight generated tremendous ratings on Showtime means there is a spot for Bernard Hopkins on Showtime. They are excited about having Bernard Hopkins. Bernard showed against Pascal that you can’t count out the older guys.”

Hopkins campaigned for a rematch immediately after the fight, saying, “If this guy has a backbone and wants to walk around with any kind of dignity and self-worth, the only thing he can do is fight me again. If that was me I know that is the only way I could really live with myself.

“If I were him, I would want to redeem myself and my reputation immediately after what happened.”

Predictions are a lot like contract clauses, which is to say they are hard to fulfill. They fall apart faster than Jean Pascal. So don’t take them seriously, especially after a problematic 2010 left a fractured web of further trouble in 2011. But here goes anyway,15 predictions for every round in a New Year:

· Floyd Mayweather Jr. will only fight security guards and only if they undergo Olympic-style drug-testing.

· Filipino Congressman Manny Pacquiao thinks about becoming his own security guard, but decides he has better things to do. He writes and proposes legislation; raises funds for his presidential campaign; asks Freddie Roach to be his running mate; asks Bob Arum to be his Secretary of Defense; studies for a couple of movie roles; plays point guard, power forward, shooting guard, center, small forward and sixth man; negotiates for ownership of an NBA franchise; tries to sing; puts off singing lessons; speaks to the United Nations; writes his autobiography; visits Barack Obama; hosts a talk show and assures the faithful that he isn’t distracted. What, Manny, worry? He stops Shane Mosley within nine rounds on May 7.

· For a couple of rounds, Mosley looks better than expected. He pushes the Manny congregation to the edge of despair with an early knockdown of Pacquiao. A red-faced Arum can be heard screaming at Todd DuBoef, telling him to arrange an immediate rematch with either Joshua Clottey or Antonio Margarito. But like the T–Shirt says: Manny Knows. Translation: No worries. Wear and tear from a long career, combined with Pacquiao’s inexhaustible energy and speed, sap Mosley, turning him into the burned-out shell he was against Sergio Mora.

· Miguel Cotto gets in the last word against Ricardo Mayorga, everybody’s first choice for a tune-up, and then moves onto some unfinished business against Margarito. Cotto avenges his 2008 loss to Margarito. Cotto never mentions whether he suspects that Margarito wore the altered hand wraps that led to his license revocation after they were discovered loss to Mosley. He doesn’t have to. A one-sided victory says it all.

· The Arum-Oscar De La Hoya feud continues, also a safe for prediction for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and beyond, say, until sometime after Pacquiao’s term as the Filipino president ends.

· Pascal says he doesn’t do rematches, even though Bernard Hopkins earned one in a majority draw and a contract clause entitles Chad Dawson to one. Pascal doesn’t do late rounds either, a habit which would doom him in another go-round with either Hopkins or Dawson, who figures to be smarter and much tougher with trainer Emanuel Steward.

· Juan Manuel Marquez beats Andre Berto and again asks for a second rematch with Pacquiao. Arum, already in a never-ending battle with Marquez promoter De La Hoya, is running short on reasons to avoid Marquez. But Arum re-opens a forgotten front. He tells Marquez to dump trainer Nacho Beristain, who has been a forgotten in the ongoing saga. Beristain walked out of a news conference amid an exchange of obscenities after Pacquiao won a disputed decision in their last bout. Years ago, Beristain ended his relationship with Arum after an angry breakdown in negotiations.

· Sylvester Stallone opens and concludes his acceptance speech in June for induction to the International Boxing Hall of Fame by saying “Yo.’’

· Mike Tyson tells the Hall of Fame audience in June that he doesn’t really belong in the Hall, but he has already been there in photos and memorabilia for several years anyway. Tyson’s induction, a worthy one despite the controversy surrounding him throughout his career, only makes it official.

· The Hall announces plans for a Hollywood wing. Mark Wahlberg is nominated for spot in Hall alongside Stallone for his starring role in The Fighter. Some critics continue to call The Fighter the best film ever about boxing. They must have never seen When We Were Kings, the poignant story about Muhammad Ali’s 1974 victory over George Foreman in Zaire. It’s a documentary, which means the drama is real in a sport that is so often its own screenplay.

· Evander Holyfield doesn’t retire. Hopkins, Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson don’t either.

· Beyond his boxing prime and a mixed-martial bust, James Toney has nowhere to go. He becomes a pro wrestler.

· Saul “Canelo” Alvarez calls out Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Canelo tells him: “Let’s fight at Azteca Stadium and see if we can do what your daddy did.’’ Chavez’ father, the legendary Julio Sr. and another 2011 Hall of Fame inductee, drew a record crowd of 132,247 to the Mexico City stadium for his 1993 victory over Greg Haugen..

· Amir Khan unifies the junior-welterweight title and begins talks about moving up in weight and class, possibly against Cotto.

· The heavyweights get a new name, the Euros, overrated and devalued.

Jean Pascal may have escaped Quebec City’s Pepsi Coliseum with his championship belts last weekend, but he didn’t escape his execution, he simply postponed it.

Now that three days have passed since Pascal battled Bernard Hopkins to a majority draw, the dust is beginning to settle. We have weathered the immediate storm of swirling rumors and conspiracies.

We know now that there wasn’t any tampering with official scorecards, nor did the WBC issue an immediate rematch following the fight.

Pascal and his team, led by promoter Yvon Michel, intend to honor their contractual obligation to make a rematch with Chad Dawson, who Pascal outclassed earlier this year to capture his light-heavyweight titles.

Then, only after Pascal-Dawson II concludes, will Michel look to put together Pascal-Hopkins II.

In his fight with Dawson, Pascal was seemingly cruising to victory, when he allowed his counterpart to come on strong in the later rounds before a clash of heads ended the bout in the eleventh.

At the time of the head-butt, Pascal was gassed. Even with plenty of rounds in the bank, Pascal was going to struggle to make it through the rest of the fight. All he had to do was get on his bike — but there was barely any air left in his tires.

Ultimately, the cut over Dawson’s eye due to the clash of heads prevented the final four minutes of the fight from ever taking place, and it resulted in a Pascal victory.

Since it had already been a knock on Pascal that he fades in the mid-to-late rounds of fights — and seeing how strong Dawson came on late in his most recent fight before Hopkins — you would think Pascal and his team would address his stamina and make it a non-issue.

Not the case. After sending the old man to the canvas twice in the first three rounds, albeit — never hurting Hopkins, Pascal seemed to be befuddled by Hopkin’s work-ethic and work-rate, almost in awe of what the soon to be forty-six year old was doing.

The charges forward that had been so successful against “Bad Chad” in June were few and far between in the Hopkins fight. B-Hop played matador to Pascal’s bull.

Pascal’s punch output, which was never something to awe at anyway, was limited to only 30 per round against Hopkins. He averaged slightly over forty against Dawson.

The Philadelphia native battered Pascal’s body with vicious punches, no doubt contributing to Pascal’s minimal punch output.

When the final bell concluded, after a both fighter’s went at one another for the full three minutes,

Judge Steve Morrow of the United States scored the match 114-112, Hopkins. While Canada’s Claude Paquette and Belgium’s Dan Van De Wielle saw the bout a draw, 114-114 and 113-113, respectively.

From my seat in front of my 52” TV, I scored the bout 114-112, Hopkins. I gave the first three rounds to Pascal, two of them 10-8 due to knockdowns. I also gave Pascal the eight round.

The other eight rounds went to Hopkins, all by scores of 10-9.

But with that said, had I given Pascal round twelve, which was as close as close can be, or any other round I scored for Hopkins, my score card would have read like that of the Belgian judge’s.

So did I think Hopkins won the fight, absolutely. Do I think a draw was highway robbery? No, not really.

To be honest, I fully expected Claude Paquette’s card to read something like 116-111, Pascal, and was pleased when Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced he saw the fight even.

But the unfortunate fact in all of this is that Hopkins cannot fight on forever. He’s been playing the 18th hole of his career for a few years now. At some point, all athletes have to leave Neverland.

At his age, another eight months or so before he gets another crack at Pascal could mean a lot. You never know when or if Hopkins will one day look old overnight.

Even still, there is little doubt in my mind that if the two meet again next year, Hopkins will best him again.

The problem is, I’m not sold Pascal-Hopkins II happens.

Hopkins is well-versed in boxing history, he is a true student of the game. Leading up to this bout, the Executioner was motivated by history — working hard to become the oldest champion in boxing history. That record meant everything to Hopkins.

“I’ll walk through fire with gasoline shoes on to get that,” Hopkins said before the fight.

And he pretty much did. Besides touching the canvas twice, Hopkins did all that could be expected of a fighter his age. His resiliency and performance undoubtedly earned him a rematch, if not an outright victory.

But the scorecards will forever remained unchanged and BHop will have to be patient for another chance to “execute” Pascal.

Only problem is, when that time comes around, Dawson may have already done the honors.

You can reach Kyle Kinder at Twitter.com/KyleKinder or KyleKinder1@gmail.com

There’s irony in every Bernard Hopkins controversy. No one, that is, means exactly what he says. Hopkins talks and talks and sees what sticks in his admirers’ collective craw. He plays them like umbrage-tuned fiddles. Except that he doesn’t, not quite, because for all their hectoring, his fans rarely care enough to buy tickets.

That is why a man who calls himself legendary had to travel to Canada to find his first packed house in ages. His opponent sold tickets. And so his opponent, the champion, got the benefit of most every doubt. Welcome to life.

Saturday at Quebec City’s Pepsi Coliseum, American Bernard Hopkins likely did enough to win his challenge for the Ring magazine’s light heavyweight championship against Quebec’s Jean Pascal. But the judges saw things differently, scoring the fight a majority draw: 113-113, 114-114 and 114-112 (Hopkins). Since that last card cannot act as a tiebreaker, Pascal remained the champion, and Hopkins’ effort to break George Foreman’s record as the oldest man to win a title fell a spot short.

My card? I had Pascal retaining his title a conventional way: 115-113. An odd tally, that. How did I get it? I gave Pascal rounds 1, 3, 8, 10 and 12. Hopkins won rounds 2, 4, 6, 7 and 11. I had rounds 5 and 9 even. And rounds 1 and 3 went to Pascal 10-8 because he scored knockdowns in both.

You agree? I don’t care. You disagree? I still don’t care. The fight was excellent. It was entertaining the entire way, even when it wasn’t entertaining – because of what that implied – and there’s something else: My scorecard for a Hopkins fight affects my identity not in the slightest.

Pascal-Hopkins I was much better than most believed it would be. Hopkins was much more fun to watch than even he believed he would be – as evidenced by his smile in the final round.

I hope they do it again. And unless Hopkins can suddenly locate 10,000 new fans to complement his usual draw, I hope they do it again in Quebec City.

Let me guess. You hate Canada now. Very well. But realize, as you rail against Canadian injustice, that your hatred of Canada says much more about you than it says about that land of polite, decent people who happen to support boxing in a way that makes American prizefighters envious. And don’t pretend for a moment you weren’t more enticed by the moments before a Hopkins fight, Saturday, than you have been in years.

Oh, the electricity in that building; like a celebration of our sport. And Hopkins’ approach in round 1 was perfect for it. He expected overenthusiasm from a young, emotional opponent. And how do you foil such an action fighter? With a backwards step, of course.

Forward-pressing guys like to get you lined-up and throw themselves at you, regardless of consequence. You hit them, they hit you, whatever. Pascal wanted to make contact with Hopkins, and make it on his terms. Once Hopkins showed the mien of a man willing to engage, making his own forward presses, Pascal should come forward, and when he did, like all action guys before him, he’d get his weight wrong-shifted. Then he’d be vulnerable.

But then you noticed Pascal had an interesting counter to that. He’d imagined correctly beforehand how a man of Hopkins’ experience and craft would undermine a forward-press from a younger man. The solution Pascal hatched was novel.

He would show Hopkins all the enthusiasm expected from the first punch in his combo. But it would be a punching feint, as it were; the first punch wouldn’t be much at all. Hopkins would relax or counter. Then Pascal would blast him with the committed part of his combination – the second punch.

Hopkins looked fragile in those opening 12 minutes, make no mistake. His body softer than before, his legs not set sturdily beneath him, Hopkins went down three times in the opening four rounds. The last was called a push. The first, caused by a right hand to the back of Hopkins’ left ear in round 1, was properly called a knockdown. The second, from a short left hook that caught Hopkins coming off the ropes in the third, was indisputable.

Didn’t stop Hopkins from disputing it, though, did it? Nah. He stood, blamed a wet spot on the canvas, said he’d slipped, even checked the mat for moisture with his boot. Irony everywhere.

But by round 6, Hopkins had Pascal completely solved. With left hooks to the body and right crosses, Hopkins put Pascal in a place that frightened the champ. Pascal responded honorably if not effectively. Then instead of chasing Pascal’s unconsciousness, Hopkins sensed Pascal’s weakness and decided to clown around.

Not exactly the way Foreman set the record against Michael Moorer.

The ending to the fight was wonderful, though. Both men traded like maniacs. Rounds 10, 11 and 12 could have gone to either.

After the final bell sounded, Hopkins began to campaign for his victory. He protested a bit too much – almost like Marvin Hagler dancing after his final round with Sugar Ray Leonard. It was for the judges, you figure. The cards they returned, really, were fine. Hopkins’ reaction was the usual. But he’d have made a more sympathetic figure of himself if he had tried harder for a knockout in the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds.

Anyway, he now has a chance to be an even older man when he beats Pascal in a rematch. I think he will if the fight happens. Still, he just made a far more compelling spectacle against Pascal than others have.

Should Bernard Hopkins retire? Not unless Chad Dawson does first.

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com. Additionally, his book, “The Legend of Muhammad Ali,” co-written with Thomas Hauser, can be purchased here.

Last Tuesday, Bernard Hopkins walked through Quebec City’s airport wearing a hunting cap with ear flaps, his face exposed the way it was never exposed when he used to make his ring walks wearing an executioner’s mask. Perhaps it’s a sign of age that “The Executioner,” whose 175-pound body is all muscle, tapered down to a twenty-seven inch waist, had refrained from wearing costumes in some of his recent fights. While he once complained that he didn’t receive the respect or recognition he deserved, while he once needed to rely on a killer’s finery to hype the killer inside him, Hopkins is now one of the most recognized and revered fighters in boxing. Of course, Hopkins still talks tough, and as he strutted into the city that would soon deny him a historical win, he exclaimed, “Saturday night you will see something unique. A 45-year-old man in a young man’s body is an amazing thing.” Hopkins, a master of his anatomy and a master of his art, knows his boxing history, partly because he has fought and beaten many of its modern legends; Roy Jones, Jr. (the second time around), Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, have been felled by this executioner’s sharp axe. Going into his fight with Jean Pascal, Bernard Hopkins was well aware that a victory would break George Foreman’s miraculous record and that he’d become the oldest man in history to win a title.

For his ring walk into the Colisee Pepsi, Hopkins wore a ski mask, the Canadian version of an executioner’s hood, but when the mask was lifted his eyes appeared calm. And why not? He was coming into the fight with 51 wins, and in his 5 losses he had never been stopped, hardly hurt. He was the notoriously crafty fighter who knew every trick inside the ropes and many tricks outside the ropes, the sign of a veteran who has been there and done that. He had won titles in three weight divisions and reigned supreme in the middleweight division for an impressive ten-year stretch. And waiting for him in the ring was Jean Pascal, hardly a household name. The number in Pascal’s win column was half the number on Hopkins’ ledger, and Pascal’s only big win was against Chad Dawson, who appeared lackluster and frustrated when the two met in August. But Pascal had two advantages going into the fight. He is an awkward, often unorthodox fighter and Hopkins has been troubled by such fighters in his past. The second advantage: youth. Pascal is 28, seventeen years younger than Hopkins, which is the equivalent of two boxers’ lifetimes.

Before referee Michael Griffin signaled the fighters to the center of the ring, Pascal stayed in his corner, getting his face greased, stretching against the ropes, as if he had all the time in the world. Intentional or not, this cocky display suggested a young man’s ignorance about the passage of time. The elder Hopkins was ready to get things started, a seize-the-day mentality that comes from knowing time doesn’t hang around. Finally, instructions were given, gloves were touched on the second attempt and the time keeper rang his bell, starting the clock’s inevitable tick forward.

For the first three rounds, it looked like the inevitable would finally take place; that is, for three rounds Bernard Hopkins looked a little too old, a little too vulnerable against the younger man. Round 1 saw Pascal moving around the large ring, a home court advantage that favored the more fleet-footed Canadian, landing one crisp left, then another and then a big right hand that seemed to bother Bernard. In the final seconds, Pascal hit Hopkins with a right behind the head, the part of the head Hopkins offered him, and the older man went down for only the second time in his career. It had been sixteen years since Hopkins tasted the canvas, and it had to taste bitter, but Hopkins got up immediately, unhurt, unfazed and smiled like it was all sweet, just another day at the office. In Round 2, Pascal moved confidently, keeping his distance, now and then jumping into Hopkins’ territory and landing looping left hands. Pascal stayed with the left in Round 3 and connected with a shorter punch that put Hopkins down. Again, Hopkins quickly stood. Again Hopkins smiled, unfazed. With thirty seconds left a street fight broke out and Hopkins landed some hard shots before the bell rang

Three rounds down and Hopkins was five points down. Another knockdown and the fight would pretty much be over on the scorecards if it went the distance. But between rounds, having tasted some bitterness of his own served by Hopkins, Pascal’s young face revealed much. His eyes looked concerned. He had a welt under his right eye. He certainly wasn’t smiling.

The fight changed in Round 4. As if injected with water from the fountain of youth, Hopkins came out hard and stayed busy. He launched a body attack, he kept the fight rough, and while he slipped to the canvas for a moment, Hopkins mostly stood tough and tall. Round 5 was all Hopkins. He kept the tempo his tempo, a seasoned jazz player’s slow and steady rhythms instead of a kid’s hip-hop rush, and continued to punish Pascal downstairs, knowing the dividends a long-term investment might pay. When the fifth ended and Hopkins went back to his corner, Nazeem Richardson told his fighter, “We will put small shots underneath. We’re not going big. He’s going big and that’s why he’s going to get tired.” Sage words from an experienced trainer. And a round later, after Hopkins won the sixth, Richardson quietly declared, “This is the round we go to work.” The halfway point was over, and the long night for Pascal that Hopkins had promised before the fight, was indeed starting to look long.

The work was body work. Hopkins didn’t look like the older man anymore. The younger man had stopped fighting and it was Hopkins moving forward, Hopkins landing body shots, Hopkins mocking his opponent, face forward, chin out, Hopkins being Hopkins, fearless. There were moments when Pacal got in the pocket and traded, but only moments. In Round 9, Hopkins moved from ground work to head work, landing a vicious right that stunned Pascal and tattooed more doubt behind Pascal’s eyes. The round ended with a good exchange, but the ninth was clearly Hopkins’. This time Nazeem’s assessment was even more succinct. “This kid is bullshit.”

Round 10 was close with Pascal pushing the fight, hoping to get the crowd back on his side, but Hopkins landed some hard lefts at round’s end. Round 11 was a good one for both fighters, Hopkins resuming his forward motion, Pascal willing to trade more, Hopkins going upstairs and down. With one round left, Pascal’s corner was worried, admonishing their fighter that he needed the last round. But it was Hopkins who came out strong in Round 12, his legs still alive, his eyes still clear, and Hopkins stayed busy, as he’d stayed busy since the fourth, especially impressive because Hopkins has never been known for his work rate. In a reversal of age, it was the old fighting hungry and the young man holding onto the old. Pascal had his moments, and there were flurries of action, but Hopkins was the aggressor. Hopkins took the twelfth.

I’m not a fan of punch stats, which often don’t tell the true story of a fight, but this fight’s stats were impressive if only because they quantified the youthful exuberance of a 45-year-old man, who many predicted, including myself, would turn old on this cold Canadian night. Young Jean Pascal threw 353 punches. Old Bernard Hopkins threw 445. As for the numbers that truly counted, I had the fight scored 115 to 112 for Hopkins, who dominated from the fourth round on. History, it seemed, was about to be made and Hopkins would become the oldest man to win a title.

Then the scores were announced. First a teaser, 114 to 112 for Hopkins. Then two dampeners. 113-113 and 114-114. A majority draw. One of the draw judges is Canadian. The other is Belgian—a country where forty percent of the people speak French. This wasn’t quite home-cooking since the fight was close, but if the boxing public is the true barometer of winners and losers, I believe Hopkins will have his hand raised, if only figuratively, by the fans. While the crowds’ boos that followed the decision could be interpreted as disappointment that their Canadian son had not won, the better read is that the boos were aimed at the judges, who snatched history from a veteran’s gloves.

There’s a famous poem by Andrew Marvell titled To His Coy Mistress about an experienced man who convinces a young woman, partly through flattery, partly through scare tactics, to seize the moment with him, to carpe the diem, but the poem really speaks to the reality of mortality right from its first hypothetical phrase, Had we but world enough and time. Hopkins has seemingly been everywhere and fought everyone and, by boxing’s standards, he’s been fighting forever. But forever runs out for mortal men. Not so tonight. In an impressive performance, Hopkins did not look old. He did not look ready to retire. He surprised us once again in a surprisingly entertaining fight. Hopkins was disgusted with the decision, but he was also stoical. He has seen it all in boxing and he knows the disappointments and dangers of this hurting business. “I had the guy beat up. I dominated the fight. Look at his face and look at mine. I’m too dangerous for anybody. It was a robbery. He should get some good shots in on an old guy. But you don’t see Pascal jumping around happy.”

The poet Marvell ends his poem by comparing time to a winged chariot hurrying near, a chariot that inevitably runs all men down. On this Saturday night, the inevitable was put on hold; Bernard Hopkins continues to outrun time’s chariot. The tough man who started fighting in the tough streets of Philadelphia, who learned life lessons in prison, who had the strength to break the statistics of recidivism, who had the stamina to forge a long career in a profession that quickly cuts men down, and who had the talent and perseverance to become a champion and stay a champion, continues to give time a run for its money.

Call the Mountie Police, because a robbery was committed at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada as Bernard Hopkins overcame two knockdowns to comeback and dominate the remainder of the other ten rounds and yet was held to a draw in an effort to wrestle the WBC Light Heavyweight title and a win would have sent Hopkins into the history books at the oldest man ever to win a major boxing championship.

Things did not start out well for Hopkins as at the end of round one he caught a counter left behind the head that sent him to the canvas for the first time in sixteen years. The shot was a debatable shot as it could have been ruled a Rabbit Punch. Hopkins steadied himself to begin his effective countering but that was interrupted in round three as Pascal caught Hopkins coming off the ropes with a left hand that dropped the legend for the second time in the first three frames. Hopkins showed his old tricks at the end of the round as he fired and landed three shots after the bell and the tone was now set for the rest of the fight as Pascal was much less aggressive and paid for it.

Over the next eight rounds the forty-five year old Hopkins put on a boxing clinic that even the best professors would not have a syllabus that would equal to what Hopkins was teach Pascal as he ripped hard body shots and straight right hands that had the eighteen years younger “champ” on his heels and having no answers to Professor Hopkins questions. Hopkins had trouble missing the baffled Pascal with any shots as he showed impressive handspeed for a man twenty-five let alone forty-five. Hopkins was so in control that after landing a hard right he stuck his tongue to Pascal. In the next round, a big right sent Pascal back towards the ropes and he appeared a bit dazed. Pascal showed little offense with the exception of an occasional uppercut on the inside that was sandwiched between Hopkins pinpoint shots that seemingly should have put rounds in the bank.

The twelfth round saw both guys go for the win as it was a close fight. The most telling shot may have saved Pascal’s belt as he landed a good right that landed on Hopkins head. Both guys fought hard until the bell sounded to the delight of the boisterous pro-Pascal sold out crowd.

The official scores read 114-112 Hopkins, 113-113 and 114-114. 15rounds.com card (off-tv) favored Hopkins 115-111.

Hopkins, 174 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 51-5-2. Pascal, 174 1/2 lbs of Montreal may have received an early Christmas gift and is now 26-1-1.

“I got up and fought like a champion,” said Hopkins after the fight. “Look at his face. Look at mine.”

Clearly annoyed by the outcome, Hopkins said, “[I’ve] got no reaction. The world [has] seen it. I had the guy beat up.” He continued, “You don’t see Pascal jumping around happy. I am not going anywhere. You saw a young man in an old man’s body. I still have the fight in me.”

Proudly donning his Light Heavyweight belt, Pascal stated after the fight, “Of course I thought I won. I stood there. I dropped him twice. We’ve got fair judges in Canada.” Though he did admit, “That wasn’t my best fight.”

When asked about going another 12 rounds with The Executioner, Pascal responded, “If he wants a rematch, any time.” Hopkins later added, “The closest I will ever come to Canada again is Niagara Falls.”