It’s a Trap! Jean Pascal vs Bernard Hopkins Preview & Pick
As much a part of the sport’s fixtures and fittings over the past couple of decades as fussy entrance music, bogus trouser-tighteners and sequinned shorts, Bernard Hopkins has a chance to sear himself into the record books in Quebec on Saturday evening. Fast approaching 46 years old, the Philadelphian renard has the opportunity to become the oldest winner of a bonafide boxing world title since folk began punching each other in the face for money under the auspices of the Marquess of Queensberry.
The new broom at light heavyweight, champion Jean Pascal, will be looking to avoid the type of terminal career rot which has infected previous opponents who chose to exchange leather with “The Executioner”. Felix Trinidad, Oscar De la Hoya, Jermain Taylor, Antonio Tarver, Ronald Wright and Kelly Pavlik - star names all- found themselves withered by the old man’s grip. Not a single one of that motley crew managed to tally a meaningful win once they’d finished tussling with Hopkins.
Whether this was a direct result of him dragging the majority of them up to an unnatural weight class, or more down to his demoralising fighting style and the protracted assault he wages on an opponent’s psyche is open for debate. Not since Muhammad Ali has a great fighter focussed as much energy on weedling themselves into an opponent’s cranium.
Pascal, up to this point, has proven impervious to his games. The Haitian born Canadian is a difficult man to discourage at the best of times and, after scoring the finest win of his career by dethroning Chad Dawson in August, he’ll be feeling just that little bit taller in his boxing boots. Not that it stopped Hopkins from chancing his arm at this week’s final presser, tormenting Pascal by snatching away the champion’s alphabet title and holding it from his grasp, before turning the screw expertly with a few well considered barbs. Clearly, Hopkins was looking to stir the champion’s emotions, luring him into fighting with aggression raised and tactics diminished, a tried and tested Hopkins wheeze.
Pascal, though, appeared disappointed with himself for rising to the bait, which leads one to believe that he understands the tomfoolery afoot and what he must do to succeed in spite of it. Not that it discounts being aggressive, far from it in fact. Quick and aggressive fighters have performed rather well against Hopkins, namely the three men to have hung meaningful reverses on his record in Roy Jones, Jermain Taylor and Joe Calzaghe.
Jones outmaneuvred Hopkins in 1993 using his quicksilver moves and unique athleticism to take a unanimous decision. Twelve years on and the unbeaten Jermain Taylor put an end to his middleweight title reign in his seventh defence (lauded as his 21st in some quarters, due to the fact he had defended a portion of the crown on 13 occasions before becoming the unquestionable number one at the weight against Trinidad in 2001). Taylor turned the trick again in a rematch and although both contests were close enough for debate, the younger man’s assertive and power punching flurries paid dividends. Hopkins regrouped to take the light heavyweight championship, yet was dethroned by Welshman Joe Calzaghe in his second defence, outworked by the hyperactive Brit in a bitty and ill tempered affair.
Like Calzaghe and Jones, Pascal is sporty and quick and he will look to crawl all over Hopkins when he snaps into action, in a similar manner to the way Taylor managed in his brace of dalliances with Bernard. Slamming all of those ingredients into a blender, the resulting mulch points us towards Pascal providing the challenger with his worst nightmare since those long and grey days in Graterford pokey.
Bernard’s best weapon is his tricky straight right. At this stage of his fighting life, his next best is his skull. A master of keeping his chin out of harm’s way, the Philadelphian throws a laser guided lead right hand before ducking into his opponent’s face whilst ripping punches to the body. From there he’ll wrap his man up to stave off retaliation and make full use of the dark arts inside; scuffle, rough up and frustrate.
Pascal is a work in progress - still. In his first foray into world class, he crossed the sea to challenge super middleweight titlist Carl Froch in “The Cobra’s” Nottinghamshire back yard. Leaving his tactics packed safely away in his suitcase, Pascal engaged Froch in a donnybrook for the ages, yet his decision to brawl rather than box cost him dear (Froch took a unanimous decision). Jean regrouped at home in Quebec, winning five on the spin, including notable notches over Adrian Diaconu (twice) and the man he ousted to become champion in Dawson. His performance against “Bad” Chad was far more measured. He boxed with Dawson for spells before launching highly kinetic and unpredictable attacks, buoyed by a rabid crowd who whooped and hollered whenever Pascal raised the tempo. It was these prolonged barrages which put rounds in the bank for him, leaving him ahead with the judges up to the point the fight was called off in the eleventh, due to a gushing cut over Dawson’s right eye.
Pascal can be vulnerable, though. He was tagged in the fifth round of his first fight with Diaconu and badly stiffened by an uppercut during Dawson’s desperate late round charge. Prior to meeting Froch, he was bothered by a left hook from non-puncher Omar Pittman, and although he’s shown sturdy whiskers since, Hopkins can find success with his faithful old right.
A couple of years back, I’d have picked Hopkins for the win without too much hesitation. And the thing is, if Pascal announced an intention to brawl in the same manner he did against Froch, I’d have little trouble picking the great man to do it on Saturday too. That won’t happen, though. Pascal will box as he did against Dawson, he’ll fence with Bernard outside before looking to explode on the old man with intense rallies. The inside battle will be telling as, for the first time in a long time, Hopkins will find he can’t bully an opponent in close; Pascal will be just as keen to throw punches in the clinches and will look to decimate the American’s ribcage should he linger there unduly.
In a cagey encounter, I expect Pascal to outpunch, overpower and in the end, have too much life for Hopkins, who will have his moments yet will take the short end of a decision. Pascal’s limitations will be exposed in victory, whilst Hopkins’ enduring greatness will be cherished in defeat. Once upon a time, Pascal would have been marching headlong into a snare. Today, it’s the Philadelphian Davy Crockett himself who’s on the verge of being trapped, another once supreme champion craning his neck between spring loaded jaws for a last night of revelment beneath the ring lights.
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