The WBC gave Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins the fight of the year award for 2010. I am sorry but this was no fight of the year. The bout was held on December 18 in Quebec City, Canada. Bernard Hopkins, who turned 46, bid to become the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a major world title. George Foreman was 45 years and 299 days when he knocked out Michael Moorer for the heavyweight title in 1994.
Hopkins was knocked down by Jean Pascal twice in the first three rounds but won most of the remaining rounds for a draw. It was Hopkins’ second time fighting outside the United States and it didn’t start off well. Hopkins suffered knockdowns in the fifth and seventh rounds.
I think the WBC felt sorry for Hopkins who didn’t make history so they awarded him with the fight of the year. Hopkins was so furious with the outcome that he vowed never to fight outside the U.S. again.
Only one judge had Hopkins winning in every other round of the fight. Another judge gave Hopkins eight of the remaining ten rounds for a 114-112 victory and Claude Paquette gave Hopkins seven rounds, for a 113-113 draw.
I personally saw the fight and all they were doing was holding and I do think Hopkins should have won but this was no fight of the year. I personally think Humberto Soto vs Urbano Antillon should have been the fight of the year.
On Dec. 4 I personally witnessed this back-and-forth slugfest. Soto eked out a unanimous decision to retain his 135-pound belt for the third time but the result almost didn’t matter as both fighters raised their stock in a tremendous battle. Antillon knew he needed a knockout to win and he had the mind set to do so. Antillon was more the brawler than the boxer that night and dragged Soto into a war. Soto, the more skilled fighter, had no choice but to stand his ground and fight back. Soto kept landing vicious uppercuts but Antillon walked through them to land thudding body shots.
With out doubt this was such a tremendous fight that a rematch is in the works for May 2011. This should have been the fight of the year.
What’s your opinion does Pascal vs. Hopkins deserve the fight of the year?
To many great fights happened this year and it was going to be hard to chose one but, Hopkins vs. Pascal was not at the top of my list. I would have gone with Soto vs. Antillon for a great toe to toe battle, or Khan vs Maidana for a dramatic fight.
Fight of the year? Yeah right! Is this the only boxing match happened in 2010? I don’t think so… Marquez vs Katsidis or Maidana vs Khan for me.
Edgar, I have to say I thought it was a great fight but definitely not fight of the year.
I don’t think they remembered fights like Marquez vs Katsidis, Darchinyan vs Mares or Humberto Soto vs Urbano Antillon. I would even say that Maidana vs Khan was a great fight.
2010 was fun hopefully 2011 will have some good ones too!!!
Happy New Year Boxing fans!
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