Jean Pascal vs Bernard Hopkins Predictions

Boxing's last major North American battle of 2010 takes place tonight on Showtime with Jean Pascal putting his light-heavyweight title on the line against Bernard Hopkins.

The sold-out clash promises to be a nip-and-tuck affair, with the champion's speed matched up against the cagey skills of the almost 46-year-old challenger.  Will youth prevail, or does Hopkins still have enough in the tank to get the job done and once again become the top man at 175lbs?

Let's take a look around the net at predictions for the Quebec City showdown...

But as far as prediction goes, I can't bet against Bernard again. I've done it too many times assuming he'll get too old, assuming the other guy will do all the right things, assuming so many things that just don't happen. I think Hopkins has looked flat cooked in his last two fights, but I'm not convinced that those performances weren't partially due to the fact that neither Ornelas nor Jones were a legitimate threat. Pascal, like Pavlik, is a threat. And another win like that for Bernard just enhances the legacy even more, and Bernard actually cares about his legacy, it would appear.

I'm goin' with the old guy, something like a convincing 116-112. Hopkins UD-12

Safe Side of the Ropes - It’s a Trap! Jean Pascal vs Bernard Hopkins Preview & Pick

In a cagey encounter, I expect Pascal to outpunch, overpower and in the end, have too much life for Hopkins, who will have his moments yet will take the short end of a decision. Pascal’s limitations will be exposed in victory, whilst Hopkins’ enduring greatness will be cherished in defeat. Once upon a time, Pascal would have been marching headlong into a snare. Today, it’s the Philadelphian Davy Crockett himself who’s on the verge of being trapped, another once supreme champion craning his neck between spring loaded jaws for a last night of revelment beneath the ring lights.

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

There's simply no way to anyone can know what kind of Hopkins will show up. If I knew it was the really good older version, I'd pick him without hesitation, even though Pascal's athleticism would theoretically give him trouble. Based on recent showings, I have little choice but to assume we'll be getting the old, seemingly done version. And Pascal has the quickness, as well as enough smarts, to beat that version of Hopkins. It won't be easy, and it sure won't be pretty, but I'm going with Pascal by a close, difficult-to-score unanimous decision.

Violent Meditation - Arbitrary Barrage - Pascal vs. Hopkins

If Pascal were more precise with his footwork and not quite as sloppy with his upper body movement, I'd cite those as reasons why I feel he'll win. But what Hopkins has lost in foot speed and reflexes, he's made up for in smart positioning. Instead, I think Pascal will outwork Hopkins and be just strong enough to avoid too much inside scuffling. And in a close, potentially ugly fight, Quebec City fans going berserk every time Pascal throws a shot should work in his favor.

PREDICTION: Jean Pascal by Unanimous Decision, 7-5 or so, in a fight we don't want to see again.

Fight Insight - Bernard Hopkins vs. Jean Pascal Light Heavyweight Championship Fight

Sure, Pascal makes his fair share of mistakes in the ring, but so did Jermain Taylor, and we saw how much trouble Hopkins had with the younger, more active opponent. Five years later, this outcome will be no different. Expect the younger Pascal to outwork the older Hopkins en route to a close, and possibly controversial decision victory this weekend.

Inside Fights - Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins Preview & Picks

Corey Willinger... Expect a competitive bout but one that will inevitably see Pascal’s hand raised, thanks to work rate, by a margin of 116-112. And that should be the end of the legendary Bernard Hopkins.

Trent Pusey... Pascal will do just fine as long as he maintains his composure and focus in the ring. Hopkins already got under Pascal’s skin at the press conference, and that is exactly what Pascal needs to avoid in order to come out of this fight a winner. The fight is going the distance, and I see Pascal taking no less than eight rounds.

Paul Magno (The Boxing Tribune)... The fact that Chad Dawson was able to shake Pascal up with every decent shot landed, means that Pascal probably has a bag of crystal where his chin should be, at least at 175, but I don’t think Hopkins will be able to get to it. Yes, I will be pulling for Hopkins because Hopkins has earned a lifetime of support, like an over the hill uncle who wants to play in the NFL and goes into one of their open camps. You know he probably won’t make it, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still show up to support him.

FIGHTHYPE - FIGHTHYPE BREAKDOWN: HOPKINS VS. PASCAL

I'm not sure that I see this fight turning out to be all that entertaining, but for the first time, I figure that we will see people hard pressed to argue that Hopkins won the decision, even Bernard himself. Oh, he'll try to state his case, but at his age, he just will not have enough.

Pascal by unanimous decision is the call... 116-112, maybe 117-111 with the hometown crowd influencing the judges in a close round or two.

Philadelphia Daily News - Prediction: Bernard Hopkins vs. Jean Pascal

If B-Hop continues to spit in the eye of Father Time, he's going to get old, in a professional sense, one of these days. But I don't think it will be tomorrow night. I think he schools the kid and ends a 6-year, nine-bout knockout drought by stopping the 28-year-old champion in 10 rounds.

Toronto Sun - Hopkins a 45-calibre Executioner

Pascal, who looked lethargic in beating Chad Dawson for the title in August, clearly has stamina issues. Against Dawson, he was content to stay on the outside and lunge in when he saw an opportunity to score points — but that won’t work against the cagey Hopkins, who is a master at exploiting an opponent’s weaknesses. Unless this is finally the fight that sees Hopkins age right before our eyes — and there’s no reason to believe it will be — the old warrior should have enough left in the tank to win a convincing decision or score a late KO.