As a Hopkins fan, I refused to vote 'Pascal by KO'... but I think there is a very live chance of a Pascal TKO here. Obviously I don't think B-Hop can get KO'd by one punch, but I can see a late ref stoppage or something of that nature happening. I could write a long post on this, but I'm going to keep it brief - to me, B-Hop looked shot in his fight with Jones. Jones is an absolute corpse now, he has been shot to **** for years, and B-Hop didn't really put a dent in him, and became exhausted in a leisurely, danger-free fight. At this point in their careers, Pascal is fresher, busier, physically stronger and mentally stronger than Jones, so if B-Hop tired fighting Jones, he is going to completely gas out vs Pascal. Don't forget, because of Hopkins's age his stamina is suspect, and has been for quite a long time now. It was clear as day that he was a superior fighter to Joe Calzaghe when they met, but because Calzaghe forced a high pace B-Hop didn't have enough left down the stretch to convince the judges. If Bernard pulls this off, I'd definitely call it the best win of his career, and one of the greatest boxing achievements of the 21st century. But, my head tells me there is only a very, very small chance of it happening. I cannot see how Pascal does not dominate the latter half of this fight and either win comfortably on points or force the ref to rescue Bernard late.
B-Hop is too smart, craft, experience to get worked over by pascal. This fight will be a toss-up, but THE GREAT Hopkins is somebody I wouldn't want to pick against EVER. Hopkins will win a close decision over Pascal.
I know you called some great upsets before they happened. And i know it's like a sin to go against Hopkins when the odds are against him but i just don't see it happening this time. The age factor and location factor can't be ignored. I have no doubt that if Hopkins had the stamina, he would school Pascal just like he would've schooled Calzaghe. But he's 46. He's going to be really running low on gas as the fight wears on. And there's also the crowd. He'll have to really win it impressively to get a decision there. I think he'll have a ton of moments. Mauling Pascal on the inside and catching Pascal with beautiful lead rights and counter rights. But he won't have the stamina to stay sharp throughout the fight. I just see Pascal outworking Hopkins. Hopkins will be just too inactive for his own good and he'll cry robbery again. Pascal is more closer to Calzaghe than Pavlik in that Pascal has great hand speed and foot speed to offset Hopkin's preferrable, Sunday pace. Pascal will keep Hopkins weary. There is no way in hell Hopkins is going to come out and assert himself. He's going to try to win a boring, decision. That's really his only shot because of his age.
i have a few things to say. to all who thaught pascal was gassed against dawson then you dont know pascal....the only time i have ever seen him gassed was against froch, and that was because he had problems cutting wieght, he no longer has that problem....against dawson pascal wanted a ko, he felt that if he could get dawson tired in the 11th then in the 12th he would come on strong...pascal has faught harder punchers than dawson, like froch, diaconnu...lets not forget that dawson dodged diaconnu....pascal beat him twice.... the crowd in montreal is nuts, imo the most energetic crowd in all north america....b-hop will be intimidated when he enters the ring i guarantee it.... pascal by tko/ko...or descision if b-hop gets lucky...
I dunno. I'm starting to think that the age for significant physical deterioration is probably higher than estimated - maybe even mid 50s. And if you can keep your body in shape & healthy, you can probably go a lot longer than most think.
Thia is perfect style match up for Hopkins ..Pascal has stamina problems and too many technical flaws !Hopkins clinches and punches his way to a UD ...