Pascal wants Bernard Hopkins again as the Executioner prepares for Chad Dawson
August 9th, 2011
By Rich Mancuso
Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson had their second of a two-city press conference tour in New York City Tuesday afternoon. Prior to meeting the media in Times Square at B.B. Kings, they posed for the cameras in front of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, the noted museum, and one of the many sponsors of the fight that will see Hopkins defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Dawson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 15th produced and distributed live by HBO pay-per-view.
photo: Gene Blevins/Hogan Photos
There was nothing out of the ordinary, but an adversary of Hopkins, Jean Pascal was miles away listening to the comments. Hopkins, earlier this year became the oldest fighter to win a world title at 46- years of age when he defeated Pascal for the belt. Hopkins wants to continue the history and said, “I have another mission to defend my title successfully like Archie Moore did when he was 47, 48 years old.”
Pardon the pun, but Pascal and Dawson will not go for that statement, believe it or not. Pascal is no longer laboring on the issue that Hopkins is a user of anabolic steroids. He silently tells people, as he did more publicly before their two controversial fights, that Hopkins should be tested. All he wants is another opportunity at Hopkins, if he prevails over Dawson.
Hopkins was not commenting on that possibility of a third fight with Pascal. His focus is on defeating the younger Dawson and continuing to make history. And even if a trilogy comes to fruition, the fight would be in his terms, meaning this time the fight would be in the United States and not up in Canada the homeland of Pascal where the previous two fights were held.
“I will wait and see what happens but I want him again,” commented Pascal late Tuesday afternoon when reached by phone. He did not say much. Pascal has been maintaining his conditioning and ready for the next fight. Will it be the winner of Hopkins-Dawson? “I want him,” he said. “I am still better and a third time, let’s do it for the fans.”
The new sponsor, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, earlier this year made a wax figure of Hopkins. The future Hall of Famer will see the figure unveiled during the week of the Dawson fight and displayed at a Ripley’s facility with a date and time to be determined. But Hopkins feels his days as a wax figure, and eventual induction into the Hall of Fame are a long way away. He continues to get stronger and has given a new perspective to the light heavyweight division.
“Believe it or not, I will be prepared to once again to beat father time and show the world what I can do,” said Hopkins about his legacy. He briefly made reference to Pascal. “He underestimated me,” was the comment and focused on Dawson. That is Hopkins, holding court with the media and focusing on what is next and not beyond.
He made reference to Dawson losing to Pascal last year up in Montreal. “He fell in Canada. Now he’s getting a second chance. That second chance is going to be very painful. You can’t be laid back against an old man. That is not good Chad. I can’t lose this match. I hope Chad fights. If he fights we all win. I want to go on to be like Archie Moore.”
And to his credit, Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s), 17-years younger, and the former world champion, is thrilled to be getting an opportunity. He is a southpaw and Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) has been successful against guys like Dawson, sustaining only two losses, and a split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe, that Hopkins thought he won. Dawson won’t be underestimated.
“I am the true light heavyweight champion and will retain my belt on October 15,” he says. And it could be time for Dawson again to claim what he had, but the reality is the two fights that Hopkins had with Pascal revived the division. Hopkins knows that, so does Pascal. That’s why Pascal will not remain silent when the fight is over. Pascal is expected to be at ringside in Los Angeles, the second venue for a fight originally slated to be held at the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey.
Yes, time passes on. But Bernard Hopkins marches on and continues to make boxing history. That last fight with Pascal on May 21st showed that Hopkins means business and will not let father time get to him. And yes, another fight with Pascal will keep the division thriving, and could be a pay-per-view fight worth purchasing.
But for now the business is “Believe it or Not” as to whether Bernard Hopkins keeps knocking on the door towards boxing history.
© 2011 BoxingInsider LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out written permission.
August 9th, 2011
By Rich Mancuso
Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson had their second of a two-city press conference tour in New York City Tuesday afternoon. Prior to meeting the media in Times Square at B.B. Kings, they posed for the cameras in front of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, the noted museum, and one of the many sponsors of the fight that will see Hopkins defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Dawson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 15th produced and distributed live by HBO pay-per-view.
photo: Gene Blevins/Hogan Photos
There was nothing out of the ordinary, but an adversary of Hopkins, Jean Pascal was miles away listening to the comments. Hopkins, earlier this year became the oldest fighter to win a world title at 46- years of age when he defeated Pascal for the belt. Hopkins wants to continue the history and said, “I have another mission to defend my title successfully like Archie Moore did when he was 47, 48 years old.”
Pardon the pun, but Pascal and Dawson will not go for that statement, believe it or not. Pascal is no longer laboring on the issue that Hopkins is a user of anabolic steroids. He silently tells people, as he did more publicly before their two controversial fights, that Hopkins should be tested. All he wants is another opportunity at Hopkins, if he prevails over Dawson.
Hopkins was not commenting on that possibility of a third fight with Pascal. His focus is on defeating the younger Dawson and continuing to make history. And even if a trilogy comes to fruition, the fight would be in his terms, meaning this time the fight would be in the United States and not up in Canada the homeland of Pascal where the previous two fights were held.
“I will wait and see what happens but I want him again,” commented Pascal late Tuesday afternoon when reached by phone. He did not say much. Pascal has been maintaining his conditioning and ready for the next fight. Will it be the winner of Hopkins-Dawson? “I want him,” he said. “I am still better and a third time, let’s do it for the fans.”
The new sponsor, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, earlier this year made a wax figure of Hopkins. The future Hall of Famer will see the figure unveiled during the week of the Dawson fight and displayed at a Ripley’s facility with a date and time to be determined. But Hopkins feels his days as a wax figure, and eventual induction into the Hall of Fame are a long way away. He continues to get stronger and has given a new perspective to the light heavyweight division.
“Believe it or not, I will be prepared to once again to beat father time and show the world what I can do,” said Hopkins about his legacy. He briefly made reference to Pascal. “He underestimated me,” was the comment and focused on Dawson. That is Hopkins, holding court with the media and focusing on what is next and not beyond.
He made reference to Dawson losing to Pascal last year up in Montreal. “He fell in Canada. Now he’s getting a second chance. That second chance is going to be very painful. You can’t be laid back against an old man. That is not good Chad. I can’t lose this match. I hope Chad fights. If he fights we all win. I want to go on to be like Archie Moore.”
And to his credit, Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s), 17-years younger, and the former world champion, is thrilled to be getting an opportunity. He is a southpaw and Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) has been successful against guys like Dawson, sustaining only two losses, and a split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe, that Hopkins thought he won. Dawson won’t be underestimated.
“I am the true light heavyweight champion and will retain my belt on October 15,” he says. And it could be time for Dawson again to claim what he had, but the reality is the two fights that Hopkins had with Pascal revived the division. Hopkins knows that, so does Pascal. That’s why Pascal will not remain silent when the fight is over. Pascal is expected to be at ringside in Los Angeles, the second venue for a fight originally slated to be held at the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey.
Yes, time passes on. But Bernard Hopkins marches on and continues to make boxing history. That last fight with Pascal on May 21st showed that Hopkins means business and will not let father time get to him. And yes, another fight with Pascal will keep the division thriving, and could be a pay-per-view fight worth purchasing.
But for now the business is “Believe it or Not” as to whether Bernard Hopkins keeps knocking on the door towards boxing history.
© 2011 BoxingInsider LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out written permission.
