Hopkins defeats Pascal to become oldest major champion

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY


MONTREAL — During their promotion for this fight last month, Bernard Hopkins took Jean Pascal's WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight belts, and wouldn't give them back.

Well, the 46-year-old Hopkins can keep them for real now after becoming the oldest champion in boxing history Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision against Jean Pascal in Pascal's hometown before 17,560 raucous fans at the Bell Centre, a new Canadian indoor record for a boxing event.





Hopkins, who turned 46 in January, eclipsed the record set in 1994 by George Foreman, who knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to win the heavyweight title at the age of 45 and 10 months.
The fighters started out slow, but their dislike for each other showed through as the fight wore on. Hopkins taunted Pascal repeatedly, sticking his tongue out at champion several times. He even came out before the seventh round and did about four or five pushups to prove he was not as tired as a 46-year-old man should be.
The tongue-wagging by Hopkins seemed to touch a nerve in Pascal, 28, who responded by charging like a bull at Hopkins, who was able to avoid most of the punches and appeared to enjoy doing it, as if he was teaching the kid a few lessons leanred in his 23-year career.
UNDERCARD: Chad Dawson wins unanimous decision
Judge Guido Cavaleri scored the fight 115-113, Danseco Reynante 116-112 and Anek Hongstongkam 115-114, all for Hopkins, who used his guile and years of experience to avoid some of Pascal's wild swings, and to tie up Pascal whenever he needed a breather. It was textbook Hopkins
And the stats proved it. Hopkins landed 131 of 409 punches (32%), while Pascal connected on just 70 of 377 (19%).
"First I want to thank God for the victory," said Hopkins. "It all started with Smoky Wilson (his mentor in prison). I didn't feel like I was 46 tonight. I felt more like 36."
As for becoming boxing's oldest champion of all time, Hopkins said, "It feels great. I set out to do exactly what I wanted to do, and that was break this record.





"I knew it was going to be a tough fight, but I wasn't going to be denied. You don't get a chance to do this too often. You're supposed to win titles in your 20s, not your 40s."
Hopkins called it one of the top two moments of his long career, "right there alongside beating Felix Trinidad. I showed him a little bit of (Thomas) Hearns, (Joe) Walcott and Ray Robinson. But mostly I showed him me."
Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) did not protest the loss. Instead he praised his older opponent.
"Hopkins fought a great fight, he's a great champion," Pascal said. "He has a really good defense and a lot of good tricks.
"I'm a young fighter and I'm green. I was a young champion. These two fights will lead me to the next level. I learned a lot from Bernard and his style."
Foreman, watching the fight at home said, "I was on the edge of my seat every round. It was such an exciting fight. Bernard was the better athlete, the smarter fighter and in the better condition. Now that 46 has done it, next a 47, 48, 49 and 50 will do it. And if somebody does it at 60 then I'll have to get back in there.
"This was the best I've seen the way Bernard took charge of the fight with a young strong champion like Pascal. Long live the king."
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes the ageless Philadelphian known as The Executioner, said, "He blew me away. I think he blew everyone away, not only that he won but the way he won."
Hopkins said he would love to fight undefeated Canadian super middleweight Lucien Bute. But he is contractually obligated by the WBC to fight Dawson next, and Hopkins said that will probably happen sometime in the fall.
The new champion acknowledged that many think of him as a boring fighter, but said, "I can say I'm a great fighter. It was exciting. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I saved the best for last.
"I want to box as well as I can and I think there are still great fights out of me to come before I finish this game. I give you breathtaking "
Hopkins said he will keep fighting like he does "until I leave this game, and trust me when I leave I will not be punch-drunk, beat up or broke."