Future Hall of Famer and two-division world champion Bernard Hopkins will challenge World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight belt-holder Jean Pascal on Saturday, Dec. 18, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) in a bid to become the oldest fighter in the history of boxing to win a world title, but he’ll have to do so in front a predominantly pro-Pascal sell-out crowd at the 16,333-seat Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada.
According to Pascal’s promoter, Groupe Yvon Michel, more than 15,000 tickets were purchased within 48 hours of the on-sale date. More than 6,000 tickets were sold within the first 30 minutes. Twelve thousand tickets were obtained in the first two hours.
A superstar north of the border, Pascal (26-1, 16 KOs) is one of the most popular boxers in Canada. The Haitian-born Canadian resident has made three successful defenses in Canada since winning the WBC 175-pound crown with a unanimous decision over Adrian Diaconu on June 19, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
An emerging superstar, Pascal is coming off a career-best, upset victory over Chad Dawson, who was considered a top-5 pound-for-pound fighter and the best light heavyweight in the world.
The age-defying, 45-year-old Hopkins won the World Middleweight title on SHOWTIME in 1995 and successfully defended it 20 times, solidifying his place as one of the most prolific 160-pound world champions in history.
Hopkins created a dynasty over his incomparable 22-year career, boasting a resume with signature victories over, among many others, Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright and Kelly Pavlik.
The 28-year-old Pascal, who was just 5 years old when Hopkins turned pro in 1988, is hoping to start a dynasty of his own in front of a raucous hometown crowd.