Hopkins-Pascal II This Saturday; Carl Froch Feels Pascal Will Win

By James Slater: This Saturday night in Canada, ageless wonder Bernard Hopkins goes for the ultimate: the chance to break fellow legend George Foreman’s record as the oldest man to win a world title. The rematch with local hero and Ring magazine and WBC king Jean Pascal has attracted the attention of many people; Britain’s Carl Froch being amongst the interested.

Froch has plenty of respect and admiration for Pascal, due to the thrilling toe-to-toe war the two engaged in back in December of 2008. Ever since that epic, Froch has spoken of his verbal agreement to give the man whose “O” he took a chance at revenge. Speaking recently with Boxrec.com, “The Cobra” gave his take on Hopkins-Pascal II, and he also made it clear he still has every intention of getting it on with Pascal for a second time – assuming Pascal can get past “The Executioner.” Froch says he is sure his former and probable rival of the future will beat the amazing 46-year-old this time around.

“I talked to him (Pascal) about three weeks ago in a café in Canada,” Froch said. “We had a little chat; we’ve got a little verbal thing going off – he wants to get the blemish off his record and I want to fight for the WBC light-heavyweight title. It’s a fight that could very easily be made. He needs to get past Hopkins on may 21st and I’m sure he will.”

Froch may be sure Pascal will get the job done this time, in the process avenging the controversial draw he was held to by the Philly great when the two met in December of last year; but the experts and fans seem to be about split down the middle when it comes to who will prevail on Saturday. No-one can ever count out the remarkable skills of Hopkins, but he was knocked down twice in the first fight and, despite the number of odds-defying performances he’s turned out over the years, he has to go sometime.

As hungry as ever – with his eye on future fights after he’s annexed Pascal’s belts; with Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute very much on ’Nard’s radar – Hopkins refuses to even think about losing. Mad as hell at the way Pascal had the nerve to suggest he may be taking illegal stimulants, B-Hop has vowed to punish his young rival, in his hometown, in front of his home fans. Hopkins may well do so, but some people think he might just have fought his last great fight back in December, and that he will run out of miracles on Saturday.

Froch is one of the people willing to predict how Pascal’s youth, energy and power getting the job done this time – even if the reigning WBC 168-pound champ may be guilty of hoping Pascal wins as apposed to really thinking he will do so. Had Pascal kept his foot on the gas after that great start he had five months ago, who knows – maybe he would have pulled out a decision win.

Pascal has promised to put forth a greater effort this time around, and at age 28 he may be young enough and fresh enough to be able to adapt further to Hopkins’ style in the rematch. But at age 46, can Hopkins possibly fight any more effectively this time? Hopkins may have got inside the head of his rival, and as a result he may be able to “old man” his way to the win many fans felt he deserved last time – heaven knows, fans and so-called experts the world over have long since been forced to refrain from predicting Hopkins’ demise.

I do think, though, that Hopkins will come up short on Saturday. He may well prove me wrong (not the first time by any stretch!), but I think Hopkins will lose quite widely on points this time.

George Foreman’s record will remain intact, as will Carl Froch’s hopes of getting that rematch with Pascal.