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Au revoir to Canada as Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins finished up a three-city tour of the country hosting press conferences in Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto to promote their December 18 WBC Light Heavyweight Championship at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, live in Canada on pay-per-view and on Showtime Championship Boxing in the United States.
The current champion Pascal and the seasoned veteran Hopkins exchanged verbal blows at each stop. Accompanied by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya and GYM President/GM Yvon Michel, the fighters will travel to New York City tonight to host their final press conference and only U.S. appearance at Planet Hollywood in Times Square tomorrow, Wednesday, October 20 at 12 p.m. ET.
Here is a small sample of quotes and photos from the Canadian tour.
Bernard Hopkins:
“I understand that this fight is win or go home for me. There’s really no tomorrow for me…unless I take this fight and I take it impressively and I take it aggressively. My career ends (if I lose). People will be calling for my head.
“Pascal is the guy to beat right now and my motivation to accept his challenge is to show that he is just borrowing that title.
“At 35, people thought I was old and then I beat Felix Trinidad. I’ve been blessed to fight so long. It says something for me to be able to stand at a podium and speak articulately.
“I’m the teacher. I’m going to take the student and give him an apple. And then, he’s going to be humble. He’s confident, but when the bell rings, that’s when I’m at my best. I know he’s serious.
“You think I’m coming for the payday, but I’m doing okay (financially). This is going to be a blueprint for understanding that life’s not over at 40. For all the old guys out there, I’m your motivation and breath of fresh air … your inspiration.
“I expect an all-out gunslinger’s fight. He’ll be told to jump on me. Why? Because I’m old. But I’ve seen every style in 23 years. The fight will change as soon as he says ‘oops’. You can’t train for the unknown.”
Jean Pascal:
”I went to high school and I had great grades. I went to college and I have my diploma. What I know about you is you’re dangerous and you’re deadly but you’re dirty. That’s three Ds, so you failed the class.’
“It’s a very important fight for me. Bernard Hopkins said he made history, that’s in the past tense. I’m going to make history on Dec. 18.
“I don’t see a legend in the ring. I see a piece of meat, and I’m a hungry dog. This is my time. I belong with the elite boxers. To be the best in the world, you have to face the best. Bernard Hopkins is a legend.”
