By Robert Jackson: “Let the head games begin”, was how I saw it during the last presser for the Pascal/Hopkins fight when Hopkins “strong-armed” Pascal’s WBC belt refusing to give it back to him and daring him to take it back!! Trying as hard as he could Jean Pascal was never able to take it back from Hopkins, it was eventually returned to Pascal – not by Hopkins.
Knowing Hopkins history, Pascal should’ve entered the presser with that BELT around his waist, in a sense DARING Hopkins to take it from him, and not giving Hopkins an opportunity for any psychological maneuvering.. Counter psychological warfare would have Pascal IGNORING the fact that Hopkins took the belt in the first place and remaining in his own head during presser because in the end Pascal was going to get the belt back. Keeping the belt ‘in the RING – during the fight’ should be Pascal’s focus, not the symbol of championship that the belt represents.
Pascal since his close loss to Carl Froch a couple of years back has gone on a tear defeating Adrian Diaconu twice (fighting with a dislocated shoulder during the 2nd fight) and bumping off the previously undefeated Chad Dawson to become champ, a feat many will say that Bernard Hopkins was unwilling to do. Hopkins during the same time frame avenged his loss to Roy Jones in a lackluster performance but has been relatively inactive.
Hopkins has trouble with active fighters who employ movement as part of their arsenal, Pascal is one of the best movers at 175lbs. Stationary, plodding fighters give Hopkins his best chance for victory! Speed is also an important asset for a Hopkins foe, at times during his rematch with Roy Jones, Jones’ speed troubled Hopkins. Pascal has plenty of speed to give B-Hop trouble. Pascal’s in and out method of fighting can be a blessing or a curse because Hopkins will be waiting to time Pascal coming in, but if Pascal can use this tactic in an unpredictable pattern it will pay dividends for the Montreal based Haitian.
In the end Pascal will be too active, too fast and too strong, setting a pace that Bernard won’t be able to cope with and this fight will play out similar to Hopkins battle against Joe Calzaghe, except that Pascal’s punches will have a damaging effect on Hopkins. The fight will end with a Unanimous Decision victory going to Jean Pascal in a fight where he dominates.