Around the Net: Jean Pascal vs Bernard Hopkins Pre-Fight Edition

Bernard Hopkins returns to the ring Saturday night against world 175lb champion Jean Pascal, in what could be the challenger's last hurrah on the big stage.

Has age finally caught up to Hopkins, or are the Philadelphia legend's cagey skills still good enough to get the job done?

The betting odds seem to indicate most believe he doesn't have enough left in the tank to topple the Canadian, but there was of course a similar sentiment leading up to the night Hopkins faced off against Kelly Pavlik.  We all saw how that went for the Youngstown fighter; does the current light-heavyweight king have a similar fate in store for him?

Pascal certainly has his vulnerabilities, but he'll also have plenty going for him when the fighters step into the ring.  There's youth of course, and a significant speed edge, but perhaps most importantly, he'll be fighting in front of a sold-out Quebec City crowd.  Just how much the atmosphere will help Pascal remains to be seen, but given how he outperformed expectations last time out against Chad Dawson in front of a loud supportive gathering in Montreal, one can expect the crowd to give the champion a boost.

As an aside, Pascal still has an outside chance at 2010's Fighter of the Year honors.  Though Sergio Martinez looks to have a very strong case for the award, Pascal can still make a good argument  for his own credentials with a win over Hopkins, especially if he does so emphatically.

Let's take a look around the net for more on Saturday's championship contest...

Bad Left Hook Fight Preview: Jean Pascal v. Bernard Hopkins

Hopkins' stamina also deserves questioning now, I think. He looked awful against Roy Jones Jr. in April. Roy barely did anything and Hopkins barely did anything more. I do not question Bernard's dedication or his training at all, but his age. He's 46 years old in a month and doesn't have the wind he used to. It's natural.

That said, Bernard has advantages, and big ones. He's a much smarter fighter. Pascal's leap in-leap out strategy against Dawson is unlikely to work so well on Hopkins, who won't be afraid to rough up the younger man. Both take punches well, but Hopkins hasn't been hurt in years. Hopkins makes up for his lack of hand speed and power at 175 with his IQ.

The Queensbury Rules - Not Pretty, But Pretty Meaningful: Jean Pascal Vs. Bernard Hopkins Preview And Prediction

But Pascal showed something against Dawson that few knew he had in him: He could actually box a little. Yes, it was awkward, and Dawson probably should have figured out Pascal's bull-like charges earlier than he did. But Pascal also countered well, and he proved harder to hit than he had in the past. He was definitely in Dawson's league speed-wise, and punched harder overall. He's always had a big heart, as he showed against Froch and especially in that shoulder injury fight against Diaconu. I wonder whether his muscle-bound frame contributed to some late stamina issues against Dawson, or if it was simply a matter of Dawson turning it on late after investing in a body attack. If it's a body attack thing, then Pascal could be in trouble, because Hopkins will hurt him to the body.

Violent Meditation - Arbitrary Barrage - Pascal vs. Hopkins

It's only fair to point out that Hopkins could literally get old overnight, being that fighting once a year only makes it more likely that we're surprised by a dreadfully shot performance from the guy who promised his dying mother he'd retire before the age of 42. While Pascal doesn't usually throw with the type of volume that would probably put Hopkins on the full defensive and prevent him from finding a groove, he still seems to have a handspeed advantage over the former undisputed middleweight champ. And a punch or two at a time may be enough to take one from Hopkins.

Boxing Scene - Bernard Hopkins: One More Execution Left To Go?

Hopkins beat Pavlik like he stole something, standing along the ring apron after the fight, glaring down at a press row daring enough to doubt him. He was ready with slices of crow for all.

A lengthy vacation, pedestrian comeback opponent, and ugly rivalry outing with Roy Jones later and here we are again. Only, this time, few seem to be biting. Oh, sure, there are those predicting a Pascal win, but the conviction isn’t what it was for those who saw Hopkins a sure loser for Trinidad, for Tarver, for Pavlik.

The aged wonder will have to overcome a lot to make history. He’s on hostile turf. Pascal has a marked advantage in hand speed. If Hopkins slows the fight down, makes it ugly, he could struggle to get the decision. Pascal, with his bursts of offense, could steal frames.

The Sweet Science - Hopkins Still Shaking A Stick At Old Age

If experience has anything to do with it, this is a one-sided fight. If youth counts for a lot, it could be a long night for both guys. And look for it to go the distance. Hopkins doesn’t win by knockout, he wins by attrition. He doesn’t lose by knockout, either. In all his fights, he’s only been on the canvas twice, and that was in a fight against Segundo Mercado 16 years ago. Since then, the only time Hopkins has been off his feet in the ring is between rounds.

“Pascal will be surprised when he learns he can’t hurt me,” Hopkins said. “He’ll be surprised that he is not fighting an old man. I’m a veteran. I can neutralize anything he does. We’ve got a long, long night coming.”

Montreal Gazette - Life in the fast lane just where Pascal expected to be

“He was always serious and trained hard, but started listening a lot more after the loss. That’s what’s needed at this level, and he knew he was close,” said trainer Marc Ramsay, who has been in Pascal’s corner since his amateur days. “He’s easy to work with because he’s ready to work hard. But he needs to know everything. You have to explain why and where something will bring us. And I think he’s a complete boxer, gifted by nature. He’s fast, his power is above average and he’s solid. He can fight, box and do a bit of everything.

“I always told him before that he was a dreamer. But now he’s a winner. That’s a big difference.”

Boxing Scene - Pascal: 175-Pound King is Still in Search Of Public Approval

But rather than receive full credit for bumping off perhaps the most talented young fighter in the game, Pascal was instead criticized for being on the verge of falling apart down the stretch.

Visions of that ending is what have people believing Hopkins will find a way to outlast the champion 17 years his younger. Most would take such a viewpoint as a sign of disrespect, or claim that they haven’t paid any attention to such talks.

Pascal not only acknowledges what’s being whispered in boxing circles, but actually views this weekend as one where he – and not Hopkins – is playing with house money.

Montreal Gazette - Pascal, Hopkins turn up the heat ahead of WBC title fight

"Listen, when I go to the States, you guys speak English," Pascal said. "I've got to speak English. There's no translation. Now, you're in my country. You're not home. This is my territory. In this town, we speak French."

Well, that certainly got everyone's attention. And with that, the fight was on. But just to make sure there would be no confusion, Hopkins grabbed the championship belt from the mayor, before a scheduled photo-opportunity, and seemed reluctant to return it to its rightful holder. Pascal got in Hopkins's face, snarled, made some threats that couldn't be overheard and pushed him, a little, before they were separated.

Hopefully, the fight will be this entertaining.

USATODAY.com - Hopkins, 45, pops teeth in, says Pascal underestimates him

"The mayor of Quebec had (Pascal's) belts in his hand, getting ready to take pictures," Hopkins says, "and I figured, if the mayor is worthy of holding the belt, I might as well get my hands on the leather and feel it and get used to holding it.

"And of course the young lion came over and said, 'I want my belts. I want my belts.' It reminded me of a Philly school playground situation, 'I want my ball, I want my ball.' I said, 'Hey, you'll get your ball. I just want to feel it.'

"So he counts to three. 'Give me my belt. If I don't get my belt at the count of three. .. He said 1-2-3. I still had the belt in my hands. Obviously I didn't go for that okey-doke. And now he's messed up. Don't he understand that I got it from Muhammad Ali? I pulled off the biggest heist when it comes to intimidation."

CBC.ca - Pascal, Hopkins get heated at fight presser

"He's playing head games," Pascal said.

"It's a game of intimidation. But it doesn't work. I've got a very good psychologist. I was prepared for it."

For his part, Hopkins didn't have much to say, limiting his comments to a terse "Enjoy the fight."

Pascal was still smarting from Hopkins' description of him on Tuesday night as an "idiot."

"Hopkins said he was intelligent and that I'm an idiot," Pascal noted. "Well, we'll see who the idiot is at the end of the fight."