By Lem Satterfield
WBC/IBO light heavyweight Jean Pascal is gearing up for his December 18 title defense against 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins at the Pepsi Colesium in Québec City, Canada. Pascal (26-1, 16 KOs) has won five in a row since losing a decision to Carl Froch in December of 2008. In his last fight, on August 14, Pascal won a career defining bout with a victory over previously unbeaten Chad Dawson (29-1, 17 KOs).
Pascal is not going to fall into the same trap as several others, by focusing on Hopkins' age. However, he plans to make Hopkins feel every bit his age.
"Bernard is trying to convince himself of what he's trying too talk about. You know, that 'I'm 45 years old but I have a 30- or a 20-year-old body.' But you do not have a 20-year-old's body -- I, Jean Pascal, do. And on Dec. 18, I'm going to bring that out of him that he truly has a 45-year-old's body," Pascal said.
Pascal views Hopkins as his big opportunity to make a name for himself in the American market. If he beats Hopkins, Pascal would like to fight in the United States.
"You know, I love America. I've only fought once over here. But I love America. I love New York City. You guys have a nice country and you are a good nation. Nice people, and, I'm telling you, after you watch my performance in this fight, you guys in the American audience are going to embrace me," Pascal said.
Pascal knows Hopkins is a master of playing mind games inside, and outside, of the ring. He has a lot of respect for Hopkins, but the respect factor will not play a role in how he treats the veteran in the ring. If Hopkins wants to make it a dirty fight, then it's going to become a dirty fight.
"Bernard Hopkins is the master of playing games. But I'm a clean fighter. But I'm not going to be dealing with him like I see a legend in there. I'm going to treat him like he's a piece of meat and I'm the hungry dog. I'm the pit bull. I'm going to be ready to fight. I'm not going to give him too much respect," Pascal said.
"I'm not going to make the mistakes people have made with him in the past. I'm not going to get caught up with his age. I know that he's dirty fighter who is known to play games. If he hits me low, he's going to get exactly the same thing. I'm not going to get intimidated by the legend."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
