Pascal vs Hopkins

Pascal will look shite in this fight. Pascal actually fought a Hopkins type of fight against Chad Dawson but he's going to have to revert to an aggressive style here. For the simple reason he's at home; the crowd expects. Hopkins has no pressure on him to live up to anything so you'll see typical movement, raiding tactics, foul play, looking for breaks. It's going to be difficult for Pascal because he's not really a work-rate type of guy that likes to be ultra aggressive, he likes to sit back and work when he wants and that gives Hopkins time, which is something you really don't want to give Hopkins at any point not least at his age. The only people that beat Hopkins in recent years, Calzaghe did it on pure work-rate which is a comfortable style for Calzaghe, Taylor used fast hands and boxed straight up with Hopkins but he's a much more orthodox fighter than Pascal. Pascal doesn't have fundamentals like Taylor in the sense JT had a troublesome double jab right hand. Pascal has no jab, he's more or less a hooker and if there is anything the Trinidad fight taught its that Hop doesn't easily get hit by left hooks.

I just don't know if Bernard will have the substance over 12 rounds to get the decision, thats the only doubt. He tends to do just enough to win the rounds early whereas he needs to win them twice as clear here, and then he tires late and it will get scrappy.

 

On a somewhat related note I was watching Hopkins/Trinidad today. I have a new found admiration for what Hopkins does in hindsight. It's easy to get caught up in the emotion of his questionable tactics at times, and when you're looking for an exciting type of fight live and it doesn't quite deliver it somewhat taints your view of him.

But sitting down watching in retrospect, in a more relaxed state, his fights up to and including Trinidad are quite enjoyable. More aggressive and there is a lot to appreciate without going through some of the aspects that **** you off in his recent fights.

 

Pascal by TKO..?

 

The Pascal who lost to Froch gets beaten by Popkins, depends how much he has come on.

 

I know Hopkins continues to defy father time but there comes a point where age has finally caught up and I think we could see that here. Pascal is a young, hungry and strong guy fighting at his peak and whilst I agree prime for prime there's no question Hopkins takes it, I just can't see him lasting 12 rounds to take a decision

 

clearly a better fight now.

 

Jean Pascal via TKO