On Wednesday, Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal had their final press conference before their fight this Saturday night, December 18, for the WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Championship. Pascal is the young, hungry fighter who dominated Chad Dawson in his last outing to capture the lineal title. Pascal took the fight to Dawson and looked good in doing so, surprising many with his heart and skills. However, his opponent this time, Bernard Hopkins, is far more experienced and savvy. At 45 years of age, this could very well be the last chance for Hopkins to capture the lineal title again. It could also very well be his last fight if he loses convincingly. Hopkins did not look good in his last outing against Roy Jones Jr. and even feinted in his dressing room after being hit with punches behind the head. Despite all of the disadvantages already on his side, Hopkins may have captured perhaps the most important advantage of them all during Wednesday's press conference.
What advantage you ask? Intimidation! Intimidation can be the key to winning or losing the fight before fight. It is the lasting impression on a person that can cause them to melt down in the heat of battle. Hopkins gained the intimidation advantage by being quick on his feet. Before the staredown at the press conference, Hopkins grabbed Pascal's WBC title and refused to hand it over. Pascal tried to ask for and even take it back, but he was not able to get the belt from the wily Hopkins. Pascal did some talking while Hopkins didn't seem to respond too much. Pascal leaned in like he wanted to wrestle, but Hopkins still did not seem to lose his cool. After the brief scuffle, the belt was retrieved and the staredown ensued.
At that moment, Hopkins looked like the man staring down the boy, the king glaring at his servant, the father chastising the son. Hopkins looked bigger and stronger than Pascal, and more like the champion than the challenger. The look in Hopkins' face was that of the man who had served time in prison and was not going to let anyone intimidate him or take anything away from him. If you watch the video, you see Pascal looking down constantly, as if he was intimidated and sorry for something he did wrong. Pascal looked ashamed of himself and nervous. After the staredown, Pascal looked away first and walked right out of the room, like he was going to his room to think about his actions. As the fight nears, what has the staredown taught us?
Has it taught us that Pascal may lack the heart to rumble with an experienced warrior like Hopkins? Has it taught us that Hopkins is the ultimate intimidator, who wins most of his fights before the first bell? Possibly it taught us that Hopkins is coming to take the fight away from Pascal, like he took the belt from the guy at the press conference. Maybe it taught us that Pascal was close to losing his temper and wanted to save his anger for the fight. Maybe it taught us that Hopkins made the wrong guy mad and will pay for it Saturday night. Maybe it taught us that Hopkins is still the teacher and is about to teach another lesson? Tune in Saturday night to see what lesson we should have learned from the press conference.
