Pascal: It'd Be Risky For Hopkins To Face Froch at 168

By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Former champion Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17KOs) spoke to BoxingScene.com about the recent rumblings of a possible super middleweight collision between IBF/WBA 'regular' champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24KOs) and living legend Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32KOs), who on Thursday celebrated his 50th birthday.

Pascal is very familiar with both. He traveled to Nottingham in 2008 and fought a twelve round war with Froch, who picked up the vacant WBC super middleweight title with a twelve round decision. Pascal fought Hopkins to a twelve round draw in 2010 and lost a twelve round decision in their 2011 rematch, where Hopkins also made history by becoming the oldest fighter to win a world title.

Hopkins unified the middleweight titles in 2001 and then skipped over the super middleweight division to become a light heavyweight in 2006. Hopkins unified the WBA/IBF titles at 175 in 2014.

Now, at age 50, Hopkins is considering the possibility of moving down to 168 to capture gold in the weight division he skipped nearly a decade ago.

"Honestly that's going to be risky for Bernard because he's 50. Carl is still young at 37. If the fight would have been at 175, I think Bernard would have more chances. But going down to 168, that's hard for the body - especially at 50-years-old. But with Bernard you never know. I think it's a good fight, but at 50-years-old and to face Carl Froch - that's risky but Bernard has so much experience, so many tricks - so anything could happen," Pascal told BoxingScene.com

There is still some loose talk of Froch face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The big obstacle to overcome in making that fight is Chavez's ongoing legal battle with promoter Top Rank.

Between the two possible opponents, Pascal certainly gives Hopkins the better shot to beat Froch. 

"Of course, definitely, because Bernard is a better boxer and has way more experience," Pascal said.