Tonight, 46 year old Bernard Hopkins is vying to become the oldest man ever to win a title in sports history when he faces Jean Pascal for the WBC light-heavyweight belt. Many people feel the Executioner should already have that distinction. Last December, he battled back from two early knockdowns to dominate Pascal over the bout’s second half. The surge ended up being only good enough to earn a majority draw. Both men come into this rematch with wrongs to rectify. Pascal seeks to erase the embarrassment of being outclassed in front of his hometown fans. For Hopkins, it’s to wash away the bittersweet taste of a moral victory and secure a record that’ll be near impossible to break. Mere hours away, both combatants still had much to say about their anticipated rematch.
Jean Pascal
On the Difficulty of Hopkins’ Fighting Style
It’s difficult because he likes to do boring fights. He always thinking about his defense. Me? I’m a boxer who likes to roll the dice in the ring. I like to take chances and give the best show. He’s a boring fighter. I’m a true warrior. I’m a fighter and a soldier. I want to be remembered as a clean fighter.
Evaluating the First Fight
I was telling myself to stay with the game plan and don’t get overexcited [after scoring the knockdowns]. Later, I was telling myself that I’m a champion and I have to show Hopkins that I’m the boss in the ring. That’s my ring, crowd and home. But that wasn’t my best performance. That’s why after the fight I was disappointed. I really thought I won a close, close fight, but I knew I didn’t give my best performance.
We only made minor adjustments because last camp we tried new things. Those new things did well, that’s why we came back with the old recipe that’s worked for my last 4-5 fights.
A lot of things happened in that fight and most people didn’t see it. To go into the ring is to go to war. You never know if you’re going to get injured or what’s going to happen. You can say you play football or another sport, but you can’t say you play boxing. It’s not a game. You always put your life on the line.
On Ending Hopkins’ Career with a Clear Defeat
I’m going to send him to the Hall of Fame because he does deserve to be there. To beat up Bernard Hopkins will increase my credibility on the boxing scene. Not just as a champion but as a big star.
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Bernard Hopkins
On Pascal’s Mental State
This guy is scared. But we all know a scared person is a desperate and dangerous individual. He didn’t want to fight this fight again. He wanted Chad Dawson. He was forced by the WBC and the commission of Canada where he lives. This guy is young but after awhile you can’t give him that excuse anymore. That was totally showing fear.
Fighting Again in Pascal’s Hometown of Montreal
I told Richard [Schaefer] I know Staples Center is on reserve, but I wanted to go back to Montreal. He called the lawyers and said it’d be another $300,000 if we did it at the Staples Center. I said well, I’ll make that $300,000 somewhere else. I’m going to Montreal. He made it happen. The commission in Canada wanted it so bad because they don’t get a lot of big matches. The referee and judges cannot be just from Canada like last time. The last referee reffed three previous fights of Pascal. I didn’t know that. One of judges this time will be from Canada, one from the US, and one from someplace else.
Pascal’s Boxing Ability
He has the power and strength but he has no intelligence. The muscles can only get you so far. It’s just like having money and no education. We see a lot of stories like that. He don’t get the chance to have me sit, get older, and him to adjust. By the rematch happening early, he’s forced to learn quickly and take the test again.
How He’ll Beat Pascal
I might go down one or two times again. But be assured I will win this fight and it will be one of the most exciting fights of the year. I have no pressure on me. I’m a veteran. The last fight was out of the character; that was the old Bernard Hopkins. Pressure beats him. He has to rest when he’s not punching. He has a mental problem. He got four or five rounds in him then he’s over. He tries to con the middle rounds. He’ll have to start fast and fight for 36 minute and I don’t think he can do it.
When He Will Retire
When I can’t do it anymore I won’t force it. There’s always a reason keep going forward. There’s always something to do out there. I’ll find something. When I’m not motivated to get up anymore I’ll know. The preparation is harder than going in the ring. I’m still getting up and running miles every day even with millions in the bank.
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Naazim Richardson (Hopkins Trainer)
Will It Take a Bad Loss for Hopkins to Retire?
Bernard’s an historian. History and his place in it is very important to him in the sport. He realizes how unique this situation is and it fuels him. He refuses to be embarrassed. Respect is a big part of his grind. I think he’ll choose the right time to walk away from the sport. I have to be extremely honest with you. When he got knocked down twice in the last fight, all I said to the guys in the corner was he made this fight more spectacular when he comes back and knocks this guy out. I had no doubt. We had a young man’s camp and knew he would be alright. The kid we had in the gym I felt was more of a beast than Pascal was.
Hopkins’ Chances of Winning a Decision in Canada
I wasn’t big on going to Canada. I’m confident now that Bernard is on equal or better terms with the Canadian fans. They have a problem with Pascal now. The crowd wasn’t pleased. Dawson was catching up with him in their fight. They gave him another chance with the Hopkins fight. The jury is still out on him. I think they’re going with [Lucian] Bute. Right now if you took a poll Bernard might rate higher than Pascal in Canada.
Can Pascal Improve Significantly from the Last Fight?
Where Pascal has to go to beat Bernard, we’re not sure if he’s mentally capable of going. He’s never shown that type of tenacity. He’s an athlete, but he’s never shown that type of gorilla in him. He really has to bring ass to get ass and he’s never been that type of guy.
Pascal’s Trash Talk
Nobody’s really feeling that anymore, “You’re gonna have to carry me out. We’re gonna go to war….” Then they get in the ring and complain about their ingrown toenail! We gotta stop disrespecting our soldiers who are out on the front lines protecting our country by using that analogy. These guys aren’t really built like that in this world today.
“Athletes vs. Fighters”
Bernard Hopkins is the last of the Mohicans, the last of guys who were just fighters like Ricardo Lopez and Julio Cesar Chavez. Not athletes, but fighters. Every guy today is a basketball player, a wrestler and just happens to box. [Andre] Berto was a wrestler, Roy [Jones Jr.] played basketball games then boxed later that night, [and] Jermain Taylor looked more like T.O. than a fighter. Bernard is the last cut of the cloth of the sho’ nuff fighters.
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Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 