When I’m wrong I’m wrong and I’m the first to admit it. I tuned in to the Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins bout not to praise Hopkins but to see him buried.
All the signs were there. Logic dictated that Pascal should dominate Hopkins. For awhile it looked that way too. Hopkins hit the floor in the first and third rounds. It appeared he was on his last legs and this was going to be the last time we would see him in a Boxing Ring.
But there is a reason why a Great Fighter is Great. It’s called stubbornness, pure ridiculous, bone-headed, heroic stubbornness. Bernard Hopkins has that. He refuses to admit when the writing is on the wall. Even when Hopkins sees the words on that wall start to appear, he breaks out the eraser and goes to work.
Hopkins worked his way back into the fight through sheer stubbornness. He kept plugging away until he found something that worked. What worked happened to be some severely hard body punches.
At the same time Pascal faded. I believe it had something to do with having too much respect for Hopkins. When Pascal had Hopkins hurt and starting to waver he held back. Against other opponents he’d already knocked down twice Pascal would have attacked. But this time he backed off and paid for it by only getting a draw when a stoppage victory was within his grasp. All Pascal had to do was keep grinding away and firing away at the older fighter and he would have worn him down. As it was Pascal was the one who near the end of the fight started appearing to be the worn out, used up, old warrior.
For the record even though I believe the draw was justified, I scored the fight for Pascal by a two point margin.
I’m hoping that Jean Pascal learned a valuable lesson tonight.
Fight the fighter in front of you, not the legend he has been.
The performance by Hopkins was heroic and awesome to behold. For a fighter of 45 to fight like that gives all us old guys new hope for the future. He deserves a rematch.
Sometimes logic and Father Time can be cheated for a little while.
I congratulate Bernard Hopkins for performing like almost nobody thought was possible. I sure didn’t think it was possible.
But next time I’d still pick Father Time to take revenge.
Father Time is a ruthless bastard. He doesn’t forget if you cheat him too many times. While God may forgive Father Time never does.
He always eventually gets his revenge and it’s usually ugly when he does.
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That’s it for now.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year again.
Take Care
Have Fun
B.L. Morgan
B.L. Morgan is the author of Blood And Rain, Blood For The Masses, Blood On Celluloid, Blood And Bones, Night Knuckles and You Play, You Pay. They can all be ordered through Borders or Barnes and Noble. By February 2011 the first three John Dark Books and Night Knuckles will be available through Speaking Volumes and the rest are available through Stonegarden.net Publishing.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!