After failing to make the 175 pound limit by a mere quarter of a pound, Bernard Hopkins easily shed the weight within two hours to come in at 174 pounds and 14 ounces. Defending, WBC light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal made the weight on his first try, also posting 174 pounds and 14 ounces.
In the HBO televised co-feature, both Chad Dawson (173 lbs.) and Adrian Diaconu (174 lbs.) both made weight without any complications.
Hopkins-Pascal will air tomorrow night (May 21) at 10 p.m. ET.
Less than 24 hours after being detained at the Canadian border, Game has launched a viral campaign for his immediate release.
The website, http://free-thegame.com, promotes Game’s Twitter (@thegame) and updates comments featuring the hashtag #freegame. The rapper is also offering “Free Game” t-shirts in conjunction with thisizgamestore.com.
Game (Jayceon Taylor) is currently being detained for the next 14 days while a judge decides were to deport or arrest him. The Compton emcee had made the trip for a two-week Canadian tour beginning on April 23 in Toronto. He believed his previous visa issues had been cleared by the tour’s promoters.
At press time, officials have confiscated Game’s phone to prevent further Twitter updates.
The Game’s Canada tour has been abruptly canceled due to customs officials detaining and denying him entry into the country.
The Compton emcee kept his fans updated on the three-hour ordeal via Twitter, and disclosed his previous issues with gaining access date back to 2005.
“I haven’t been able to get in Canada since the Documentary dropped!!!” Game Tweeted. “Its been a minute mayne [sic]. See y’all in 4 hours….Now boarding.”
According to Game, he trusted the concert promoters to handle his previous visa issues. He now faces possible jail time or deportation after a hearing. He expects to be detained for at least two weeks.
“I’m sorry to all my fans but I was mislead by promoters and assured I would be able to enter,” he said. “I’m being detained in Canada for 14 days until they process my inadmissability [sic] then I’ll have a hearing heard by a judge.”
Game’s case marks the third time in recent motnhs that Hip-Hop artists have been turned back at the border. Swollen Members, Cam’Ron and Vado were all denied entry for previous criminal convictions.
Game’s Canadian tour was scheduled to begin April 23 in Toronto and run through May 7 in Lethbridge.
Bernard Hopkins’s second-half dominance of light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal was not enough to overcome two early knockdowns, forcing the Executioner to settle for a heartbreaking majority draw.
In the early rounds, it appeared that the 45 year old Hopkins had finally bit off more than he could chew. Pascal, with faster hands and a new found countering ability, was catching Hopkins with looping left hand counters. An arching right cuffed Hopkins behind the ear, resulting in Hopkins’s first knockdown since 1994. The feat was repeated in the third, this time off a counter right that dropped Hopkins to his knees. Each time the Philly native sprang to his feet; Hopkins was not hurt either time, but seemed to be finally showing weaker legs.
Hopkins gained footing in the fourth, courtesy of piercing left hooks to the body. These shots gave pause to Pascal’s offense, and Hopkins began to dissect the champion’s rhythm and time him. However, Pascal came right back in the fifth, finding a home for the leaping left hook as the challenger focused on the body.
The fight’s second half featured a great comeback from Hopkins. In rounds sixth and seven, he constantly had Pascal on the defensive, strafing him with that left to the body, and occasionally throwing in a hard overhand right. Pascal was at times in full retreat, and the Canadian crowd murmured “ohhs” after every solid Hopkins connection.
By round eight, Hopkins felt the tide had turned. He smiled and stuck out his chin after Pascal caught him with a left hook, and preceded to return the favor with hooks to the body. The ninth saw Hopkins visibly stun Pascal for the first time with a short straight right. Hopkins continued moving forward, and broke from his normal mauling style to outpunch Pascal in these very important rounds.
Bernard Hopkins, knowing he was in enemy territory and pressed on by trainer Naazim Richardson, did not coast in the championship rounds. In the 10th, Hopkins put on a masterful display of body punching, causing Pascal to jump with every digging hook downstairs. Pascal finally tried to hold his ground in the 11th, winning an early hook exchange before getting back on his bicycle. Hopkins remained relentless, hurting Pascal with body shots. To finish the round, Pascal ended with three quick right uppercuts inside a clinch.
With the 12th round possibly deciding the fight, both men went all out. Hopkins pounced out the gate with mauling, hard hooks. For the first time, Hopkins showed signs of faitgue, and looked to rest briefly in clinches after landing. A desperate Pascal reasserted himself by exchanging hooks and getting the better of it. Hopkins responded with short rights of his own. In the closing seconds, each man swung for the fences as time expired. Hopkins immediately smiled and raised both hands, and Jean Pascal heaved a huge sigh of relief and walked back quietly to his corner.
The two early knockdowns proved to be Hopkins’s undoing. An American judge scored the bout 114-112 for Hopkins, while a Canadian and Belgium judge scored the fight 113-113, and 114-114 for a majority draw. The crowd groaned at the verdict. Bernard Hopkins, who’s always maintained the boxing establishment has wanted to get rid of him, had new ammunition to claim he had been jobbed. Unlike decision losses to Joe Calzaghe and Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins not only threw more punches (502 to 350), but also outlanded Pascal significantly (153 to 86).
“The Canadian judge gave it to the guy. I got no reaction, the world seen it. I had the guy beat up, c’mon man!” Hopkins fumed to Showtime announcer Jim Gray, who broke objectivity and told Hopkins he won the fight. ”They got me damn near winning every round. One [knockdown] was to back of the head…I got up and fought like a champion. I probably won that round that they called the knockdown in…I dominated the fight and he was holding…I’m too dangerous for anybody…They wanted me to sit around and get older. This was sure-enough robbery. The fans saw it and know what it is. This is one of the reasons most fighters from the States don’t like fighting outside the country. You don’t see Pascal jumping around joyful. I know I won.”
“I won based on my performance. It wasn’t my best fight, Bernard likes to fight dirty,” Pascal claimed. “He’s a tough guy to box. Both of them [were legitimate knockdowns]. We got fair judges in Canada. I’m not happy, I like to win clear…if he wants a rematch, anytime.”
The majority draw derails Hopkin’s bid to become the oldest man ever to win a boxing title.
At press time, the WBC plans to announce an immediate rematch, with a venue undetermined.
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What an excellent fight! On my scorecard, Pascal did not win a round after the fifth. I had Hopkins by a score of 114-112, and this is with Pacal having two 10-8 rounds. It was a great comeback for Hopkins, and I can understand the extreme disappointment he’s feeling. He didn’t get the win, but this fight enchances his legacy considerably. He took a champion 18 years his junior to school, and in the eyes of most won the fight. Pacquiao and Mayweather get all the attention, but Bernard Hopkins has also consistently fought at a high level over the last decade.
Pascal’s limitations were exposed badly. I picked Hopkins because the Canadian fights at a pace that favor the old master. But even I was surpised by how Hopkins stalked and outpunched him. The mauling, ugly style that Bernard Hopkins has used on many times in his older years was nowhere to be seen. What we saw was glimpses on the old B-Hop from his early middleweight run.
The WBC did the right thing in ordering the rematch. Let’s see if Jean Pascal is willing to come to the States.
Earlier today, Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins completed their weigh-ins for tomorrow night’s (December 18) light-heavyweight championship fight. Hopkins came in at a trim 174.6 pounds. Pascal looked just as ripped and strong as he did against Chad Dawson, coming in at 174.1. Hopkins, known for last-minute stare down antics at weigh-ins, took the subdued approach, while Jean Pascal was the one fired up. The champ attempted to back Hopkins off the stage, and had to be restrained by his promoter and Hopkins trainer Naazim Richardson. Below is video of the entire incident.
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This fight has really racked my brain the last few weeks. On one hand, you have Bernard Hopkins, who’s looked his age in his last two fights, but also has a history of out-foxing younger fighters. On the other is Jean Pascal, a strong, bullish light-heavyweight who should have a strength advantage over Bernard Hopkins.
What swayed my prediction was two factors: Jean Pascal’s activity and speed. The champ likes to fight in spurts, unloading with short bursts of punches before falling back and regrouping. That’s exactly the type of pace that favors Hopkins, who at 45 years old needs to pace himself. In his last defeat to Joe Calzaghe, the Welshman focused on constant, albeit sloppy pressure, resulting in Hopkins being forced to clinch instead of countering. B-Hop had to resort to exaggerating low blow damage in order to catch his breath. Against Pascal, Hopkins will be able to dictate the pace, and get off first.
Second, Pascal doesn’t have the speed and athleticism to take Hopkins out of his comfort zone. This is the reason why Hopkins took this fight immediately, but put off facing Chad Dawson. Bad Chad had the speed to trouble Bernard, much like Jermain Taylor was able to even with limited boxing skills. Calzaghe’s speed was also a factor in keeping Hopkins focused on defense rather than building points through offense. Pascal is strong, but wild in his attacks. His hooks come in wide, and Hopkins should have no issues avoiding most of Pascal’s power punches.
Although I’m confident in my pick, it’s still a 45-year-old man in there. There’s always that chance of the Executioner turning old overnight. Who do you see coming out on top?
Bernard Hopkins hasn’t scored a knockout in six years. But that didn’t stop the Executioner from boldly declaring today (November 30) that he’ll stop Jean Pascal when they meet for the light-heavyweight title on December 18.
Hopkins will be heading into hostile territory when he faces Pascal in the champion’s hometown of Montreal, Canada. He faced similar conditions nine years ago when he dismantled Felix Trinidad in Madison Square Garden for his signature win. What most would consider a disadvantage, Hopkins sees a situation that may negatively affect his opponent.
“There is added pressure for him when you fight in your home. You get nervous because you don’t want to disappoint,” Hopkins said. “I am doing something out of character. I am fighting in Canada. The stakes are raised more than normal when you walk into another guy’s territory. I have no problem fighting in Canada. I am at my best when I walk into another guy’s home. If he is good, I have to be super good.”
Hopkins’ stoppage prediction is one that most people won’t take seriously. His last one was a single, liver shot KO over Oscar De La Hoya, who was competing well out of his natural division at middleweight. With Pascal, he sees the TKO coming after the Canadian is broken down from rounds of punishment.
“There is no magic trick to this. December 18 you are going to see me win this fight,” Hopkins vowed. “Not just go the distance, but win by TKO or stoppage…Pascal challenged me. Pascal called me out. He is risking his belt, and I am going to make him wish he hadn’t…I am going to dissect this guy. I am going to take him apart. Take him out of his comfort zone.”
Pascal vs. Hopkins will be broadcast live on Showtime.
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We all know Hopkins saying “take him out of his comfort zone” translates to “I’m going to hit him with headbutts and low blows.” Indeed, we shall see how Pascal handles getting roughed up in close by a boxing master.
At 45 years old, Bernard Hopkins continues to defy the expected career-span of a professional boxer. But the former undisputed middleweight champion does see his legendary run coming to end if he loses in December to Jean Pascal.
Hopkins understands that many have placed him on borrowed time since an atrocious performance against Roy Jones, Jr in April. That PPV fight was void of sustained action, and on multiple occasions Hopkins took several minutes to recover from alleged rabbit punches. Hopkins knows that another bad performance or loss would give ensure the end of his visibility on both HBO and Showtime.
“I understand that this fight is win or go home for me. There’s really no tomorrow for me…unless I take this fight and I take it impressively and I take it aggressively,” Hopkins admitted on the Canadian leg of his press tour with Pascal. “My career ends (if I lose). People will be calling for my head. Pascal is the guy to beat right now and my motivation to accept his challenge is to show that he is just borrowing that title.”
The people “calling for his head” has been from members of his own camp. Immediately after the Jones fight, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer recommended in the media that Hopkins consider retirement. That statement upset Hopkins, and for a time the Philadelphia fighter threatened to leave Golden Boy.
Earlier this year, Naazim Richardson revealed to Beats, Boxing & Mayhem that he told Bernard Hopkins to seriously consider retirement before suffering a bad loss.
“You’ve done everything in the ring but lose badly,” Richardson said.
But Hopkins has heard the retirement talk before. He reminds everyone that he was well into his 30s when he upset Felix Trinidad in 2001. In addition, the Executioner is confident that he can school Pascal in the same way he did a then undefeated Kelly Pavlik in 2008.
“At 35, people thought I was old and then I beat Felix Trinidad. I’ve been blessed to fight so long. It says something for me to be able to stand at a podium and speak articulately,” Hopkins explained. “I’m the teacher. I’m going to take the student and give him an apple. And then, he’s going to be humble. He’s confident, but when the bell rings, that’s when I’m at my best. I know he’s serious. You think I’m coming for the payday, but I’m doing okay (financially). This is going to be a blueprint for understanding that life’s not over at 40. For all the old guys out there, I’m your motivation and breath of fresh air … your inspiration.”
In recent years, Hopkins has struggled with late-fight stamina. Many believe his claims of fouls with Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr were simply ploys to buy more time and catch a breather.
Hopkins expects Pascal to test that theory with constant pressure. However, the wily veteran cryptically hinted that he’ll be able to nullify Pascal’s game plan.
“I expect an all-out gunslinger’s fight,” he said. “He’ll be told to jump on me. Why? Because I’m old. But I’ve seen every style in 23 years. The fight will change as soon as he says ‘oops’. You can’t train for the unknown.”
Showtime airs Hopkins-Pascal on December 18.
“It’s about time for a new era, I’m the new kid on the block…You’re gonna school me? I already have a college diploma.” - Jean Pascal
Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal have hit the road to promote their light-heavyweight title fight on December 18. In this footage from their Quebec City stop, Hopkins frames Pascal as another in the long line of young challengers he’s overcome like Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor. Although Hopkins lost twice to Taylor, he boasts that Taylor was “never the same” following their series. He promised to take Pascal to school and prove he’s still the best at light-heavyweight. Pascal had a nice comeback on the school comment, running down his excellent high school grades, and even bringing a copy of his college diploma.
Very intriguing fight. B-Hop signed for this very quickly, so I know he sees something in Pascal’s style he can exploit. In contrast, note how Hopkins did not express much interest in facing Chad Dawson (a fast southpaw who would’ve potshotted Hopkins and not allowed him to work up close). I believe Hopkins feels confident he can control the pace because Pascal fights in spurts.
Showtime will air this WBC championship bout live from Quebec City. Kudos to the Montreal Gazette for the below footage.
IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute is strongly considering vacating his title to face light-heavyweight champion and fellow Canadian Jean Pascal in March 2011.
Bute, who many consider the best fighter at super-middleweight, has found himself the odd man out after six of his potential challengers signed on for Showtime’s Super Six tournament, which began in November 2009. The round-robin format of the Super Six will kept those fighters from facing anyone else until mid-2011. In the meantime, Bute has made two title successful KO defenses against Librado Andrade and Edison Miranda. On October 15, he will face American Jesse Brinkley.
The logical idea of Bute unifying with the Super Six winner is hampered by time constraints. Because of Mikkel Kessler’s tournament withdrawal due to an eye injury, Showtime has marked him down as the fighter to get the first shot at the tournament winner, who should be crowned by the summer of 2011. This would mean Bute would have to wait until early 2012 before getting the chance to unify. There also could be contract issues, as Bute is now a HBO fighter, and the Super Six participants fight exclusively on the Showtime network.
Pascal made his name in America this past August by handing Chad Dawson his first loss. The victory also earned him the distinction of holding the WBC and RING magazine titles at light-heavyweight. On December 18, he will face Bernard Hopkins in Quebec City on Showtime PPV. Over the past year, Hopkins has talked favorably about facing Bute, and Pascal has advised media he would be willing to make what would be seen as a Canadian superfight.
Lucian Bute’s October 15 title defense against Jesse Brinkley will be aired live on www.espn3.com. Check your local TV listings for the time of the ESPN replay on October 17.
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Can’t blame Bute too much for this move. You may recall that back when the Super Six was announced, many wondered why Bute was not included, because according to reports Showtime didn’t even ask him to participate. Maybe it was the terms of his HBO agreement or thinking he would price himself out. Nonetheless, Bute’s career and the tournament were both hurt by his omittal.
Because Showtime contractually couldn’t switch the Super Six from round robin to elimination, the tournament won’t be over for some time. We have Stage Three going on in November (Green-Johnson, Froch-Abraham, Ward-Dirrell). Then two semi-final bouts need to happen in early 2011, followed by the finals in mid 2011. Then Kessler would get his shot towards the end of the year. And that’s assuming if no one gets injured or any other problems happen. This leaves Bute with bare bones options at super-middleweight. He either continues fighting lesser opponents, or makes a move up.
The Pascal-Hopkins winner is way more credible than Bute facing someone like Kelly Pavlik. We’ll see where the chips fall, but this proposed scenario seems way more feasible as opposed to Bute waiting for the Super Six winner.
What’s your call? Should Lucian Bute wait to unify at 168, go with the move to 175, or jump between the two weight classes?
