Date December 18, 2010 5 feet, 11 inches 6 feet, 1 inches | 26-1 (16 KO) 51–5–1 (32 KO) | |
Venue Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Title(s) on the line WBC, IBO, and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Titles. | ||
On December 18, 2010, Jean Pascal defended his Light Heavyweight titles with a majority draw against former world champion Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins, a native of Philadelphia, traveled north to Quebec City, Canada to challenge the Quebec native for his titles.
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The fight
The fight started at a good pace, with both fighters getting combinations and landing good shots. Hopkins was knocked down in the 1st round, and again in the 3rd. He complained that it was a blow to the back of the head that caused him to go down in the final seconds of the 1st, but the Montreal ref, Michael Griffin, scored it a knockdown. The knockdown was clearer in the 3rd, when Pascal tagged B-Hop with a left. Hopkins dropped to the canvas and got up with no problem. Pascal began to wear down and Hopkins picked up the pace, knowing he was down on the scorecards. The Canadian boxer was the younger and quicker but was not able to do much and was not that active. He was hit repeatedly in the final six rounds. Hopkins launched a desperate flurry in the final round but failed to put Pascal down. "The 12th round was vicious," Hopkins said. "He looked to be tired from the sixth round. He was gasping. He held every time I got close. And I just kept coming forward throwing punches. He was holding on for dear life."
There was some early debate over whether the Canadian and Belgian judges' cards had been altered, but that notion was discarded by both camps. Hopkins reluctantly accepted a draw on Pascal's turf, even if he felt he won—and insists he would if they fought again. Hopkins said he wants a rematch, but not in Canada.
"Look at my record -- anyone I fought twice I destroyed," he said.