The Executioner or to be executed?

[FONT=&quot]The Executioner or to be executed? [/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]From the tough Philadelphia upbringing it is a testament to the mental strength and the will to succeed that Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins is one of the most accomplished fighters of the modern era. The man who is referred to as ‘one of the most controversial men in boxing’ is trying to replicate the phoenix, as he goes back to the Joe Hand boxing club in Philadelphia as a rebirth, in his bid to beat the current Light Heavyweight champion on May 21st.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The call for a rematch came straight after the LHW champ Jean Pascal retained his titles through a majority draw decision. Through the good will of the Champion he gave Hopkins a rematch, instead of taking other fights which would have been seen as easier.
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[FONT=&quot]Hopkins says his motivation is to keep proving his critics wrong, he will be entering this return leg like he did the first fight with Pascal and his fights with Tarver and Pavlik…..the underdog. Psychologically for him this is the advantage also it generates more interest in the fight and more support for him among boxing fans. Hopkins at 46 years old, out of his prime weight class and attempting to be the oldest person to hold a major title is against the odds. Which leads to the underdog appeal ‘’those who are viewed as disadvantaged arouse people’s sense of fairness and justice – important principles to most people.’’ Richards. D. et al. Hopkins feels like he is ‘’ahead of the game because he’s not supposed to make it’’ B-Hop.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Hopkins though immensely talented started his career as a fighter inconsistently with a loss in his first outing with Clinton Mitchell, followed by a 16 month break from boxing, then embarked on a hot streak only to be halted by The Sports Network’s ‘Fighter of the Decade’ Roy Jones Jr. He came back from that loss to make 20 defences of his Middleweight title and become the undisputed middleweight champion. Then to become the Light Heavyweight champion and beat his old rival, Roy Jones Jr. long overdue.
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[FONT=&quot]Hopkins now wants to enhance his legacy by becoming the Undisputed Light Heavyweight champion, and protests that he is getting better as he ages he is preserving his body as time goes on ‘’like peaches in a jar, getting sweeter and sweeter as time moves on’’ B-Hop. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]In this physical chess match he will be facing the once beaten Haitian-Canadian Jean Pascal. While the Canadian has class and acknowledges Hopkins accolades in the ring he claims ‘it is time for a new era in boxing’. Pascal’s only blemish on his record is his loss to Carl Froch in Nottingham England, and a potential rematch looms if Pascal beats Hopkins and Froch comes out of the super six tournament without taking too much damage.
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[FONT=&quot]This 7 time Canadian amateur national champ is a tricky operator, beating the likes of Adrian Diaconu, Chad Dawson and pushing Froch to the limit. Pascal’s trainer Marc Ramsay is very confident ahead of the rematch saying ‘’I am absolutely sure that this time, Hopkins will not complain that he has been robbed!’’.[/FONT]