Dynasty II: Pascal vs. Hopkins Rematch Set for May 21 in Montreal, Scuffle at Recent Press Conference

Added on Mar 30, 2011 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

The 46 year old Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will head north of the border to Quebec to take on WBC and IBO Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal for the second time in just over five months. The Haitian born champion fought Hopkins to a 12 round majority draw in Quebec City late last year leaving the vacant WBC Diamond title still up for grabs along with Pascal’s other two straps in this rematch.

In front of 16,500 fans at the Pepsi Center and millions watching at home on Showtime, Hopkins came up just a bit short in his bid to become the oldest fighter in history to hold a major world title. Two of the judges scored the bout even with scores of 113-113 and 114-114 while Steve Morrow scored the fight in favor of the elder Hopkins with a final tally of 114-112.

Pascal was able to floor the challenger in the first and third rounds while the cagey veteran mounted a comeback in the later rounds before time expired.

Now they switch cities and networks as the May rematch will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal and will be televised on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.

One of the things that makes Hopkins the phenomenon that he is, in addition to his remarkable title run as a middleweight, is his ability to remain competitive against the sport’s elite at the age of 46. The majority of fighters that compete at his age are simply lured back by lucre, Hopkins on the other hand looks to put the stamp on his legacy with another title. Pascal, however, feels that Father Time will catch up to Hopkins and plans to exploit the future hall of famer’s age to his advantage.

“I won the first fight and I will win the rematch,” said Pascal. “But this time, when I knock Hopkins down, I will keep him there. Hopkins is an old man; he doesn’t have it in him to face me again. I am ready to end this once and for all in front of all of the fans in Quebec.”

The always confident Hopkins made it clear that age won’t be a factor as he goes back into the land where Pascal currently resides.

“I am a threat no matter how old I am, and Pascal knows it,” said Hopkins. “He got two knockdowns [on the judges' scorecards], is almost 20 years younger than me and still couldn’t win the fight. At the end of the day, the fans know who won. I showed Pascal an old fashion boxing beat-down that night and I am going to do it again, this time in his own backyard. Believe me, Pascal knows what’s going down on May 21…it’s Execution time again.”

The fighters, trainers and some of those involved in the promotion of the event hit the road the past couple of days with press conferences in Montreal on Monday and then in NYC yesterday.

The two had to be separated on Monday at the after Pascal suggested that the Philly fighter might be benefiting from performance enhancing drugs.

“Yesterday in Montreal was an amazing press conference. Probably the most interesting press conference I have been to since I started promoting fights,” stated Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.

Hopkins, who throughout his career has gotten under the skin of plenty of opponents with his brash approach to press conferences, didn’t react well to the accusation.

Yesterday, a fired up Hopkins boldly told the media and fans alike, “don’t be surprised if he [Pascal] dies in the ring in May. That is how I feel. I mean that. This isn’t hyping up a fight. This is not for any [expletive] press conference. Don’t be surprised if I kill him!”

If the recent media tour is any sort of indicator for the fight that lies in wait, fans will be in for an entertaining main event. In addition to the championship rematch, the televised co-feature will be a 12 round tilt between former World Champions Chad Dawson and Adrian Diaconu. Both of whom were defeated by Pascal the two bouts leading up to his first encounter with Hopkins.