Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins finished up a three-city tour of the country hosting press conferences in Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto to promote their December 18 WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, live in Canada on pay-per-view and on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing in the United States. The current champion Pascal and the seasoned veteran Hopkins exchanged verbal blows at each stop. Accompanied by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya and GYM President/GM Yvon Michel, the fighters will travel to New York City tonight to host their final press conference and only U.S. appearance at Planet Hollywood in Times Square tomorrow, Wednesday, October 20 at 12 p.m. ET. Here is a small sample of quotes and photos from the Canadian tour.
BERNARD HOPKINS
“I understand that this fight is win or go home for me. There’s really no tomorrow for me…unless I take this fight and I take it impressively and I take it aggressively. My career ends (if I lose). People will be calling for my head.
“Pascal is the guy to beat right now and my motivation to accept his challenge is to show that he is just borrowing that title.
“At 35, people thought I was old and then I beat Felix Trinidad. I’ve been blessed to fight so long. It says something for me to be able to stand at a podium and speak articulately.
“I’m the teacher. I’m going to take the student and give him an apple. And then, he’s going to be humble. He’s confident, but when the bell rings, that’s when I’m at my best. I know he’s serious. You think I’m coming for the payday, but I’m doing okay (financially). This is going to be a blueprint for understanding that life’s not over at 40. For all the old guys out there, I’m your motivation and breath of fresh air … your inspiration.
“I expect an all-out gunslinger’s fight. He’ll be told to jump on me. Why? Because I’m old. But I’ve seen every style in 23 years. The fight will change as soon as he says ‘oops’. You can’t train for the unknown.”
JEAN PASCAL
”I went to high school and I had great grades. I went to college and I have my diploma. What I know about you is you’re dangerous and you’re deadly but you’re dirty. That’s three Ds, so you failed the class.’
“It’s a very important fight for me. Bernard Hopkins said he made history, that’s in the past tense. I’m going to make history on Dec. 18.
“I don’t see a legend in the ring. I see a piece of meat, and I’m a hungry dog. This is my time. I belong with the elite boxers. To be the best in the world, you have to face the best. Bernard Hopkins is a legend.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
”It’s discipline and dedication – when you have those as a combination there’s really no limit to what you can do inside that squared circle. Bernard Hopkins doesn’t drink or smoke and he trains every day. He’s a machine and that’s why he keeps on fighting and is still on top of his game.’
“Styles make fights. When Hopkins fought Roy Jones Jr. it was a terrible style for him because Jones is a difficult, crafty boxer who is not going to make you look good. But when you have a fighter like Jean Pascal, who is going to attack and throw every punch with full force, Hopkins will be able to use his experience and be crafty inside the ring. It’s going to be interesting – can the young lion beat the veteran?”
YVON MICHEL
“This is a great opportunity for Jean Pascal to make a name for himself and put him in the elite class of fighters. Bernard Hopkins is a great fighter and for someone like Jean Pascal, to have this opportunity to fight him means a lot for Jean Pascal and also for Canada.
“The title of the fight is Dynasty as is this about creating a new one for Jean Pascal or continuing one for Bernard Hopkins. Jean is a hungry young champion who wants to prove he is the real deal who is going to have to use his heart and energy to go up against a legend. This is going to be an incredible fight.
“We are happy to have the fight in the beautiful city of Quebec. The fight is going to be very popular and we expect it to sell out immediately when the tickets on sale. We will have a great night of boxing for everyone in the arena and watching throughout Canada and the United States.”
All Photos by Quebec City
I hope he hangs em up before he gets hurt. Win or lose I hope he retires as well. He’s proved what he’s needed to already.
Yea your right jesus. Hopkins is a tough old goat, But you know what they say “when your time is up your time is up”
I think its time to go win or lose for B-hop. He’s a tough old guy and i’ll miss watching him fight, But its time to retire.
Hopkins needs to hang up the gloves for good. I just feel that no one can be a part time boxer. Especially not at his age. Good luck to both fighters
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