Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins

Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins, billed as Dynasty, was a professional boxing match contested on December 18, 2010, for the WBC, IBO, and The Ring Light Heavyweight championship.^[1][2] The bout was held on December 18, 2010, at Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and was televised on Showtime.

Dynasty

Date	December 18, 2010
Venue	Colisée de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Title(s) on the line	WBC, IBO, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Jean Pascal Bernard Hopkins Nickname "The Executioner" Hometown Laval, Quebec, Canada Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Pre-fight record 26–1 (16 KO) 51–5–1 (1) (32 KO) Age 28 years, 1 month 45 years, 11 months Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) Weight 174+1⁄4 lb (79 kg) 174+1⁄2 lb (79 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition WBC, IBO and The Ring Light Heavyweight Champion The Ring No. 4 Ranked Light Heavyweight 2-division world champion
Result
Majority draw

Background

Following Pascal's upset victory over Chad Dawson, 45-year-old former champion Bernard Hopkins was soon named his next opponent. Within the first 48 hours of tickets being on sale for Pascal/Hopkins, more than 15,000 tickets were sold.^[3] In preparation for the fight, Pascal spent forty days training in Miami.^[4]

Hopkins was looking to surpass George Foreman as the oldest boxing champion in history.

The fight

The fight started at a good pace, with both fighters getting combinations and landing good shots. Hopkins was knocked down in the 1st round, and again in the 3rd. He complained that it was a blow to the back of the head that caused him to go down in the final seconds of the 1st, but the Montreal ref, Michael Griffin, scored it a knockdown. The knockdown was clearer in the 3rd, when Pascal tagged B-Hop with a left. Hopkins dropped to the canvas and got up with no problem. Pascal began to wear down and Hopkins picked up the pace, knowing he was down on the scorecards. The Canadian boxer was the younger and quicker but was not able to do much and was not that active. He was hit repeatedly in the final six rounds.^[5]

Hopkins launched a desperate flurry in the final round but failed to put Pascal down. "The 12th round was vicious," Hopkins said. "He looked to be tired from the sixth round. He was gasping. He held every time I got close. And I just kept coming forward throwing punches. He was holding on for dear life."

The fight went the full 12 rounds, judge Steve Morrow scored it 114–112 for Hopkins, while Claude Paquette and Daniel Van de Wiele both scored it even (113–113, 114–114 respectively) resulting in a majority draw with Pascal retaining his titles.

Aftermath

There was some early debate over whether the Canadian and Belgian judges' cards had been altered, but that notion was discarded by both camps. Hopkins reluctantly accepted a draw on Pascal's turf, even if he felt he won—and insists he would if they fought again. Hopkins said he wants a rematch, but not in Canada.

"Look at my record -- anyone I fought twice I destroyed," he said.^[6]

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:^[7]

Televised

• Welterweight bout: Paul Malignaggi vs. Michael Lozada
  • Malignaggi defeats Lozada via TKO at 2:33 of round 6.
• Middleweight bout: Peter Quillin vs. Martin Desjardins
  • Quillin defeats Desjardins via KO at 2:53 of round 1.
• Super Middleweight bout: Daniel Jacobs vs. Jesse Orta
  • Jacobs defeats Orta via TKO at round 5.

Preliminary card

• Welterweight bout: Kevin Bizier vs. Ronnie Warrior Jr
  • Bizier defeats Warrior via RTD at 3:00 of round 3.
• Lightweight bout: Pier-Olivier Côté vs. Cesar Soriano
  • Cote defeats Soriano via TKO at 0:30 of round 1.
• Heavyweight bout: Tyson Fury vs. Zack Page
  • Fury defeats Page via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout: Eric Martel Bahoeli vs. Ruben Rivera
  • Bahoeli defeats Rivera via unanimous decision.
• Light Middleweight bout: Mikaël Zewski vs. Leonardo Rojas
  • Zewski defeats Rojas via TKO at 2:59 of round 2.

Broadcasting

Country	Broadcaster
Canada	Canal Indigo
Poland	Polsat
United States	Showtime