Hopkins-Pascal Rematch: Neutral Officials Down The Line

by Richard Cloutier

GYM's Yvon Michel, who promotes WBC/IBO light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, told BoxingScene.com that both he and Golden Boy Promotions, who handle Bernard Hopkins, agreed on neutral officials for the rematch between their boxers on May 21. No officials will be used from the United States or Canada. The fight is a rematch of their controversial draw which took place last December. Golden Boy won the recent purse bid, but two companies agreed to make decisions with a united front.

"Even though Golden Boy won the purse bid, we are the co-promoters of the event. We don't rely on the bid. Officially, it's Golden Boy who took the advantage, but we agreed to make decisions together. Regarding the issue of judges, for example, there is already an agreement to the effect that there will be no Canadians or Americans. The WBC has already ruled that the officials are neutral, and that the fight be staged in either the United States or Quebec," Michel said.