by Richard Cloutier

WBC/IBO light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal spoke with BoxinScene.com/Netboxe.com about last Saturday's twelve round draw with veteran Bernard Hopkins at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec, Canada.

BoxinScene.com: Hello Jean. Now that the dust has somewhat settled, can you tell us about your fight with Bernard Hopkins?

Jean Pascal: I had a wonderful evening with my supporters, the people of Quebec. People from the old capital were also behind me and I saw that after the fight. They supporting me 110%. It really wams my heart. The fight was a good battle. This is the first time, I think, that Bernard Hopkins is involved in a fight as exciting as it was, given his reputation for making all his fights dull. I forced him to have a good fight. I honestly think I did enough to win, given that I am the champion.

There was a lot of rounds that were tight and normally, when the rounds are close, they must go to the champion. You must beat the champion decisively to become the champion. So I think the victory was mine. The judges decided otherwise. This is only a postponement. I'll come back even harder and next time I'll finish it clear to leave no doubt.

BS: Is there anything that surprised you in the way Bernard Hopkins was boxing?

JP: Not in that way. What surprised me was his adjustments. The way he made adjustments against me. Chad Dawson that was his problem. He was not been able to adapt to my style and my performance. Hopkins however, it took him five to six rounds to adjust, but when he adapted to me he did better and that's what made the fight a little harder and led to a draw.

BS: What do you think of comments made by the people of Golden Boy Promotions on the judges' decision?

JP: That's what we call American chauvinism. In their minds they must be the best, but it's not how life works. So they look for a way out and shout to the skies. I did interviews on the radio and American people were saying that the fight was very close. Of course, on some radio stations, journalists shouted about the fight. But I think if there was a robbery, it was I who was the victim of theft, because it occurred in my own place. This fight was close, but I was not dominated by Bernard Hopkins. As I said, close rounds should always be given to the champion.

BS: Golden Boy Promotions and Bernard Hopkins are calling for a rematch. There is no clause to that effect in the contract, but the WBC could declare a new confrontation.

JP: They will not have to wait a long time. Me, I want another fight against Bernard Hopkins to prove that I am better than him and demonstrate that the judges were in error.

BS: Would you be willing to go fight him in the United States as Bernard Hopkins requested?

JP: I have no problem. If Bernard Hopkins is able to gather 16,600 people in an venue like I can do in Quebec, I'll be there. But I doubt that he is capable.

BS: In theory should be your next fight against Chad Dawson, because of the contract clause to provide him with a rematch after your victory over him in August?

JP: It should be Chad Dawson. Maybe I'll be able to get Bernard Hopkins later. But for now I'm not going to think about that. I want to spend time with my family. So if it's Chad Dawson, that's good. If it is Bernard Hopkins, I'm very excited.

BS: Jean, I'm look at you and you have no brusing. You do not seem to have suffered any injuries during your fight.

JP: Of course, I was hit with several blows during the fight. But I have nothing broken, nothing cracked, so I'll be ready to resume training in the second week of January.

BS: Jean, thank you very much and happy holidays to you and your family.

JP: Thank you. I want to take this opportunity to wish happy holidays to all of the boxing fans and most importantly, keep punching!
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