Bernard Hopkins vs. Jean Pascal: 5 Things We Learned from Fight Night
Bernard Hopkins made history last Saturday with his emotional and career-defining win over Jean Pascal, earning him the WBC, IBO and Ring championship belts as well as the record for being the oldest boxer to ever win a major world title.
At 46, Hopkins broke the record previously held by George Foreman after he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 at the age of 45.
"The Executioner" was already an all-time great middleweight, and he is still in pursuit of being one of the greatest boxers of all time in the history of the sport. Some would already have him there, but it can't be determined till he is done.
He isn't done, and it's important to see what goals he has in mind as he continues and expands his 23-year professional career.
These are five things we learned this weekend, including answers about Pascal and Chad Dawson as well.
No. 5: "Bad" Chad Dawson Was Anything but That in His Fight with Adrian Diaconu
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Former IBO, IBF and WBC Light-Heavyweight Champion "Bad" Chad Dawson returned last weekend on the undercard of Hopkins vs. Pascal to prove he was a new and improved fighter.
Instead, he returned as the same fighter with just some little tweaks adjusted with the help of his new trainer, Emanuel Steward.
Steward has helped other fighters become more offensive and effective, and he stated before the bout that he wanted Dawson to not feel so relaxed because it keeps him from sitting down and throwing power shots. Steward predicted a knockout, but the result was a unanimous decision after 12 rounds for the 28-year-old.
We are seeing a similar type of fighter in Dawson that we saw in Jermain Taylor when Steward trained the former middleweight champion. Neither of them are prepared to take chances and take their opponent out or even try. Even with Steward trying to get Dawson to step up the pace, and he did it with Taylor as well, neither fighter was able to do it.
Dawson's opponent, Adrian Diaconu, had only lost to Pascal in over 20 professional fights so he also deserves credit for putting up a good fight.
Maybe it's a little harsh to blame Dawson for his performance because he still won in convincing fashion, but with a five-inch height advantage and the better technical skills, he could have taken some more chances to show fans some new stuff. He won the fight exactly how many people thought he would, and that doesn't help him get the big-money bouts unless he gets called out.
No. 4: Dawson Isn't Ready for Bernard Hopkins
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Hopkins stated he was interested in fighting Dawson next, and with a division that doesn't have any big stars outside of the top three or four fighters, it will most likely happen next.
The CompuBox stats from the co-main event showed some good numbers for Dawson. He landed 157 of 267 power shots, which equals 59 percent. Compare that to 77 of 218 power shots in his 11-round fight with Pascal, and you will see some improvement in accuracy but where is the work rate increase?
Dawson may be ready to challenge Hopkins, but he isn't ready to beat him. Hopkins showed that he can use whatever physical or technical advantages a boxer has over him and adjust to the style needed to defeat them.
With those types of numbers, they are just simply not enough to defeat the living legend in Hopkins.
The experience of Hopkins will be an advantage in every one of his fights, and it will be an advantage now more than ever. He can't control what his opponent does, but he can act off of it, and Dawson isn't busy or strong enough to present the challenges necessary to beat Hopkins.
It's going to take a power-punching and aggressive fighter to defeat him and even that's a questionable scenario. If that's not the case, then a busy puncher that can steal rounds with volume punching is the next best challenger.
No. 3: Pascal Doesn't Deserve a Third Bout with Hopkins
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It was pretty clear in the first two meetings between the two light-heavyweight boxers that a third is not going to be needed to prove who the better man is. It's clearly Hopkins.
Both fights were identical, and the only thing that separated the two were the knockdowns Pascal got in the first fight to help sway the scorecards his way but could only earn him a majority draw. Without them, he would've lost by the same scores he did in the second fight. ESPN's Dan Rafael had the second bout scored a draw at 114-114.
If Pascal couldn't get a close decision in his hometown both times, there is a good chance he won't get it if they fight again. At this point, Hopkins knows everything Pascal brings to the ring, and it's not enough to win.
Considerable improvements need to be made in Pascal's game before he can handle a boxer as crafty and experienced as Hopkins. At 28, many would expect Pascal to be able to take advantage of the little advantages he possesses, but he couldn't do it.
A bout with a light-heavyweight contender like Tavoris Cloud could be his next opponent.
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No. 2: "I Will Not Retire Until I Get Close to 50."
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If Hopkins still has three or four years of fighting left in him, they are going to be the best years for fans to watch the former undisputed world middleweight champion.
At his age, there is an extra amount of excitement that comes with the bouts. Can these young and up-and-coming boxers defeat the "old guy?" That will be a question that is asked before every one of his upcoming fights for however long he decides to fight.
Potential fights with Dawson, Bute, Andre Ward, Cloud or even Nathan Cleverly could be intriguing battles. Bute is 31, but the rest are all under 30.
Cleverly (22-0) is the current WBO light-heavyweight champion and only 24. That may be one of the biggest gaps in age two boxers have had in a championship bout if it ever takes place, and it possibly could depending on the plans Hopkins set out in front of him. Winning a fourth title in the division could be an amazing achievement to add to his already extensive list of record-breaking achievements.
No. 1: Hopkins' Final Fights Will Be His Most Exciting
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"I know the fans pay to see fights, and you know, I've been accused of being boring," said Hopkins in his post-fight interview with Max Kellerman. "I was just trying to buy time and buy years for now. I'm going to finish last. I'm going to finish last and finish strong.
"I had a plan in my boxing career to box as well as I can, win fights, and then get to the last bit of good orange juice, and this is what you see."
With bouts between former champion Chad Dawson (30-1) and current IBF Super-Middleweight Champion Lucian Bute (28-0) on the horizon, these are two of the most important and significant fights of his career. Bute vs. Hopkins is one of the biggest fights in the division if the Romanian-Canadian star decides to move up.
"Before I leave this game, you are going to see the best fights of Bernard Hopkins' career, and I know that's a big order providing what I've done already, but I'm vouching and I'm promising every fight I have before I retire is going to be breathtaking and heartbeating."
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