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© Tim Snow – Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions
45 year old former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins finally looked to be an aging fighter during the early rounds of his WBC light heavyweight title challenge against reigning champ Jean Pascal but turned the situation around in the second half of the bout at Quebec City’s Pepsi Coliseum.
Pascal, just 28, shocked Hopkins early on, putting the veteran in the rare position of being on the canvas in the first and third frames but the wily Philadelphian was never truly hurt and beat the count each time.
As Pascal began to slow down from his efforts, the experience of Hopkins began to shine through as he opted for a very successful body assault that had the champion looking for answers by the sixth.
Hopkins seemed to gain in strength as the contest wore on as the two fighters waged war at close quarters. The quicker Pascal had his moments but he couldn’t escape the iron will of the challenger, who kept focus, hitting the champion from all angles and delivering an education.
The final round was a back and forth battle as both combatants left everything in the ring with Pascal winning the 12th with a higher activity rate.
When the scores were read, Hopkins, 51-5-2 (32), missed out on becoming the oldest fighter to win a major world title by the thinnest of margins as Pascal, 26-1-1 (16), won one card at 114-112 with two coming in even at 114-114 and 113-113, a majority draw victory for the champion.
Pascal has now retained the WBC title for the fourth time but may have to face Hopkins in a rematch, given the close nature of the verdict.
The undercard in Quebec City featured former IBF light welter beltholder Paulie Malignaggi, 28-4 (6), making his debut as a welterweight, producing a rare stopping by halting Michael Lozada, 36-7-1 (29), in the sixth.
Middleweight contender Peter Quillin, 22-0 (16), crushed Canadian vet Martin Desjardins, 7-19-4 (3), in the first round, English heavyweight titlist Tyson Fury, 13-0 (9), defeated well traveled Zack Page, 21-33-2 (7), by a wide points verdict in an eight rounder.
Middleweight contender Daniel Jacobs, 21-1 (18), came back from his WBO title loss to DmitryPirog last Summer by halting Jessie Orta, 7-14-2 (4), in the fifth while lightweight prospect Pier Olivier Cote, 14-0 (9), finished off Cesar Soriano, 21-26 (13), in the first and welter prospect Kevin Bizier, 13-0 (9), defeated Ronnie Warrior Jr, 13-4-1 (4), when Warrior didn’t come out for the fourth round.
