I actually wouldn't be surprised if this fight comes off. Pascal is the kind of fighter an in-shape Hopkins could completely dismantle.
Hopkins, as usual, will find a way to win. I've ran out of words to describe Hopkins' unbelieveable longevity. Since 1990, Hopkins has won at least one fight every year. That's now 21 straight years, and counting. Not only that, he had an 11-year stretch in the middle of that streak, where he did not lose a single fight! Hopkins is one of the most highly underrated fighters in the history of boxing. I find it ridiculous how people can have Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather, and Glen Johnson ranked higher than Hopkins on their ATG lists. People are severely discounting Hopkins' longevity.
In Montreal Bernard wouldn't be able to fall down and gain precious time to recover. If Hopkins pulls that **** in Montreal he will get counted out. Ask Branco.
Believe it or not, Last December, I got laughed at for putting Bernard Hopkins #1 on my list of greatest fighters of the last 20 years, from 1990-2009. There were people who had Bernard Hopkins outside the Top 5, and even some had him outside the Top 10, only to have guys like JMM, PBF, and Glen Johnson ranked higher than B-Hop!
Hopkins with out a doubt, even at 45. Hopkins would be able to figure out Pascal and frustrate the **** out of him by countering him all day. Pascal leaves himself wide open for counters every time he throws the left. For some reason Dawson didn't capitolize on that until that uppercut in the 11th. B-Hop wouldn't make the same mistake. On top of that, Hopkins stamina (even at 45) is much better than Pascal's. Pascal might get the first few rounds on workrate alone but no way he wins 12 rounds against B-Hop. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Hopkins were the betting favorite. Pascal just doesn't have the ring smarts to hang with B-Hop. Pascal is getting way too much credit for his win over Dawson. Dawson practically handed him that fight.
I didn't vote Hopkins because I think he has so much left, I voted Hopkins because I have so little confidence in Pascal going forward. I was very unimpressed with his workrate, with his stamina, and overall skill level. I think Hopkins schools him, and I think Cloud would give him brain damage.