By Mark Vester
Bernard Hopkins, 45, is hungry to once again make history on Saturday night when he challenges WBC/IBO light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec. Hopkins is prepared to be the counter-puncher in the fight. He expects Pascal to come forward and press the fight. If the champion decides to work going backwards, Hopkins has no problem with chasing him down.
"I'm also aware if he starts running and I've got to chase and be the hunter I ain't got no problem doing that. I'm ready for anything and everything come December 18th because it's laying it all on the line. That's what I'm going to do and that's what I have to do. I've got a lot of motivation for this fight. I've got a lot of personal motivation for this fight and I've got a lot of historic motivation for this fight," Hopkins said.
Hopkins has not fought outside of the United States for many years. In the past he's refused to travel outside of the United States in fear of being robbed by the judges. He doesn't have any worries about Pascal receiving a hometown decision.
"Michael Griffin is the referee, so he's from Canada. I heard of him. There's also one judge from Canada. The rest is from the WBC. So at the end of the day, again, Bernard Hopkins is in Canada to win and win big period. It doesn't matter whether the referee in there is from Zaire, Africa. At the end of the day people have eyes, people can see, but you can't wake a man up off the canvas and give him the fight at the same time," Hopkins said.
"If you don't do what you're supposed to do, fight a perfect fight and not be in a position for anybody, for anybody to even think about anything that shouldn't be done proper and that's where I'm at my best. Here I go again; I've got to reach down in that bag."
