The first fight between WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal and former Two-Division World Champion and Future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins last December was one of the most talked-about fights of that year, with fans across the continent hotly debating the outcome to this day. Whatever side was taken, everyone agreed on one thing…they wanted to see it again. On Saturday May 21, Pascal and Hopkins will give everyone what they want when they meet in “Dynasty II: Pascal vs. Hopkins” at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. The world championship bout will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing in the United States and televised live on pay-per-view in Canada. A 12-round light heavyweight bout between former World Champions Chad Dawson and Adrian Diaconu will also be featured on the telecast.
“I won the first fight and I will win the rematch,” said Pascal. “But this time, when I knock Hopkins down, I will keep him there. Hopkins is an old man; he doesn’t have it in him to face me again. I am ready to end this once and for all in front of all of the fans in Quebec.”
“I am a threat no matter how old I am, and Pascal knows it,” said Hopkins. “He got two knockdowns [on the judges’ scorecards], is almost 20 years younger than me and still couldn’t win the fight. At the end of the day, the fans know who won. I showed Pascal an old fashion boxing beat-down that night and I am going to do it again, this time in his own backyard. Believe me, Pascal knows what’s going down on May 21…it’s Execution time again.”
“The first encounter between these two warriors was by all means superior and much more spectacular than anticipated by the majority of the world’s boxing experts,” said Yvon Michel, President of Groupe Yvon Michel. “It produced one of the highest television ratings for a boxing event in 2010. There is no doubt that both these fighters have the strength and the ability to produce a fierce battle and that their styles will make for a stunning clash. In this rematch, there is only one question from most experts…who will be the winner? We are pleased that our distinguish partner Golden Boy and Bernard Hopkins are coming to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where this historic fight will take place in front of some of the most passionate and supportive boxing fans in the world.”
“Hopkins vs. Pascal was one of the most talked about fights of 2010 and rightfully so,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Regardless of whether you thought the decision was correct or not, both fighters gave us compelling action for 12 rounds, and this was a natural for a rematch. I’m expecting another war in May.”
“The Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins rematch sets up for a great night for the sport as Pascal tries to keep his title with the eyes of Canada along with his hometown fans of Montreal upon him, while Hopkins looks to become the oldest reigning champion in the history of boxing,” said Kery Davis senior vice president HBO Sports. “You have two great champions bringing their formidable skills and knowledge into the ring, striving for supremacy.”
In their first bout on December 18, 2010, Pascal and Hopkins engaged in a fierce back and forth battle over 12 rounds before a highly disputed draw verdict was rendered. Following the outcry over the debated draw in which the majority of ringside observers, viewers and media members felt the older Hopkins was victorious, the WBC Board of Governors voted in favor of ordering an immediate rematch between the two for the WBC and WBC Diamond Light Heavyweight World Championships.
Fighting out of Montreal, Canada, 2004 Canadian Olympian Jean Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KO’s) has been thrilling fight fans north of the border for years with his unique style and knockout power. In 2008, Pascal lost his only professional bout in an exciting championship clash at super middleweight with former World Champion Carl Froch. Since then, he moved up to the light heavyweight division and the 28-year-old has been unbeatable, going 5-0-1. Included in this streak were two epic battles with Adrian Diaconu, the first of which earned him the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title in 2009 as well as a big win over Chad Dawson that saw him hand the American his first professional defeat. On May 21, he will look to erase the memory of his draw with Bernard Hopkins by scoring a resounding win.
Boxing’s ageless wonder, 46-year-old Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KO’s) continues to amaze with his performances in the ring. The longest reigning middleweight champion in history with over 10 years and 20 successful defenses during his reign, Hopkins is a lock for the Boxing Hall of Fame, but he isn’t done yet. The Philadelphia native has defeated Howard Eastman, Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik, Enrique Ornelas and Roy Jones since turning 40 in 2005. However, the one win he wants more than any is against the man with who he fought to a controversial draw last December, Jean Pascal. In that bout, Hopkins had hoped to break George Foreman’s record and become the oldest fighter in history to win a significant world title. On May 21, he will get another chance. “The Executioner” has promised to let this opportunity slip away.
Also featured on May 21 will be a 12-round light heavyweight bout between former World Champions Chad Dawson and Adrian Diaconu. It’s a pivotal bout in the 175-pound weight class as Dawson would like to regain the WBC title which he lost to Pascal or take on Hopkins, a fight he has been trying to get for years. Diaconu has unfinished business of his own with Pascal after two memorable meetings, but first the two must settle their own score in the ring and with the stakes so high, expect these two top contenders to leave it all in the ring on fight night.
A longtime light heavyweight champion on a mission to regain his belt, 28-year-old “Bad” Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KO’s) is well aware that his road back to the top passes through Pascal or Hopkins. A gifted southpaw who reigned over the division from 2007, when he defeated Tomasz Adamek for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Crown, until a 2010 decision loss to Jean Pascal, Connecticut’s Dawson (who also holds wins over Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson) is hungrier than ever.
“This is an important fight for me,” said Dawson. “I need to make a statement against Diaconu and I will. Then when I’m done, it’s on to the winner of Pascal-Hopkins II.”
2000 Romanian Olympian Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu (27-2, 15 KO’s) has captured the hearts of fans in his adopted home city of Montreal and he has made the Bell Centre his own personal backyard, going 11-2 in the venue. The former WBC Interim Light Heavyweight World Champion, Diaconu’s only two professional losses have come via decision to Jean Pascal and he knows that with a win over Dawson, he may get his shot at redemption.
“With my fans in Montreal supporting me, I’m prepared to deliver the fight of my life against Chad,” said Diaconu. “He’s a great fighter and I respect him, but I won’t stop until I get my world title back, and I need to defeat Dawson to get there.”
