Bernard Hopkins, 45, failed to make history as the oldest boxer to ever win a major world title Saturday night in Pepsi Coliseum, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, when he fought to a majority draw with the hometown champion Jean Pascal.
WBC light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, 28, retained his world title belt in what many observers saw as a close, that could have gone to either fighter. Hopkins felt he did enough to win, but Pascal squeaked out a draw on points from knocking Hopkins down twice — once in the opening round and another in the third round.
Despite being knocked down early, Hopkins showed his boxing experience and picked his shots against the younger Pascal slowing him down with vicious body shots that made Pascal think twice about coming in with a flurry.
The 12th and final round was pure action, and a round of the year type of round, when Hopkins came out trying to go for the knock-out and both fighters going toe to toe and grappling in the clinch in a very physical last round.
The judges scores were Steve Morrow (USA) 114-112 for Bernard Hopkins, Claude Paquette (Canada) 113-113 even, and Daniel Van de Wiele (Belgium) 114-114 even, making it a majority draw allowing the Canadian champion to retain his WBC and IBO 175-pound belts.
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