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I translated this. It has been written by Jean Pascal and was published on RDS.ca. He's talking about his next fight against Hopkins.
Tuesday 21st september
The young wolf against the old fox.
More than a month has passed since my victory over Chad Dawson and I have tried to spend the most time possible with my daughter. However, I have been in demand over the last few weeks after the fight.
I managed to take some days off to relax, but it would have been better if I could have rest a bit more. Despite that, I feel very good mentally and physically and I'm ready to start training again. In fact, I've been training for a week already.
I'm going to sit down with my team in the next days to establish a plan for the fight. We've already had a preliminary meeting at the beginning of september, and we're going to finalize the whole thing like the location of the camp and which sparring partners we'll use.
I like to train, that's why I'm back in the gym before my trainers asked me to return.
Why Hopkins ?
Many fans and experts have been surprised that I was going to fight an adversary as dangerous as Hopkins after I beat Dawson. Here is why : I like challenges and I wanted the best opponent.
In my last fight, I beat Dawson who was regarded as the best in my division. Then, some said it is Hopkins, so I want to fight him to prove I'm the best in my category and one of the best boxers in the world. Beating Dawson and Hopkins won't leave doubt about who the best light heavyweight is, and that is why I have decided to face him.
Of course, Hopkins has a lot of experience and has seen a lot of young wolfs like myself during his career, so he's not gonna be impressed. It will be me who will have to stay focus and not get impressed by the living legend !
Tuesday morning, I was running and I was telling myself : "Wow, I'm going to box against Bernard Hopkins, a living legend in the sport." However, it is essential for me to take this fight as if it was any other fight. But I do realize that it is him, it's big, it's almost like a dream.
With that said, I think I got the right attitude and that I have to keep it that way. I have to see Hopkins as another boxer who wants to stop me from reaching the summit.
I must stay focus on the task at hand. My strategy hasn't been established since we're 3 months away from the fight. I'm back in the gym, light training, a lot of biometry (?). I'll be training my boxing next week.
I must also avoid falling into the trap of Hopkins' age. To me, people are puzzled by his age (45), Hopkins is like wine, he gets better with age. I'm saying that because he has had his best years as a boxer at the end of his tirthies and because that at age 43, he gave a boxing lesson to Pavlik, the man considered to be the future of boxing at that time.
I won't let myself get deceived by his age because he takes care of his body and his health. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes in on the best shape of his life on december 18th.
I have never hesitated to admit that I wished to establish myself as one of the best boxers in the world and it's clear that I'm pleased with the recent rankings. I appreciate the fact that people recognize what I do and the efforts I put together to become the best and give a good show each time I fight.
I believe my fights are always exciting because I give 110% of myself. Some say I get tired towards the end of the rounds. To me, it's just normal because I give the maximum every round. In fact, you can be in the best shape in the galaxy, but something is wrong if you're not tired after the fight. If a boxer is fresh after a fight, it's because he hasn't given it his all.
How can I describe Hopkins ? He is a difficult boxer and we heard the same about Dawson. Some pretended the fight against Dawson would be boring because of his style. But once again, I expect to give a good show and it is certain the fight will be twice as exciting if Hopkins put some ****e.
If I compare the fights against Dawson and Hopkins, I would say that the first was myouth against youth, skills vs skills and intelligence vs intelligence. This time, it will be the young wolf against the clever old fox, youth against experience, and we'll see if the student can surpass the master.
To me, Hopkins is a bigger challenge (than Dawson). Dawson had a similar level of experience to me whereas Hopkins has boxed against Jones Jr, Pavlik, Taylor, Tarver and all the best. We're talking about a boxer who is bounded to the HOF, he knows all the tricks in the book, so I cannot bring nothing to the ring that is gonna surprise him.
Hence, it will be important t stay focus and stick to the gameplan.
On the other side, Hopkins could bring something I'm not expecting and surprise me, so I know I'll get a lot of experience and maturity in this fight.
The site for the fight hasn't been decided yet, it will either Ottawa or Quebec. Ottawa has contacted us because the 18th is a whole event there, not just a date. It has been rare that great boxers have come to Quebec.
We have the chance to match a legend against a yound wolf like me, so people should'nt miss this chance, it could take 15-20 years before such an event happend again here. Got to jump on the occasion, one more ticket sold, one more chance for me to win.
HBO won't televise the fight this fight and it saddens me. However, I know that HBO has some problems with Hopkins. Showtime will be televising and they will invest a big budget to promote the fight.
Tuesday 21st september
The young wolf against the old fox.
More than a month has passed since my victory over Chad Dawson and I have tried to spend the most time possible with my daughter. However, I have been in demand over the last few weeks after the fight.
I managed to take some days off to relax, but it would have been better if I could have rest a bit more. Despite that, I feel very good mentally and physically and I'm ready to start training again. In fact, I've been training for a week already.
I'm going to sit down with my team in the next days to establish a plan for the fight. We've already had a preliminary meeting at the beginning of september, and we're going to finalize the whole thing like the location of the camp and which sparring partners we'll use.
I like to train, that's why I'm back in the gym before my trainers asked me to return.
Why Hopkins ?
Many fans and experts have been surprised that I was going to fight an adversary as dangerous as Hopkins after I beat Dawson. Here is why : I like challenges and I wanted the best opponent.
In my last fight, I beat Dawson who was regarded as the best in my division. Then, some said it is Hopkins, so I want to fight him to prove I'm the best in my category and one of the best boxers in the world. Beating Dawson and Hopkins won't leave doubt about who the best light heavyweight is, and that is why I have decided to face him.
Of course, Hopkins has a lot of experience and has seen a lot of young wolfs like myself during his career, so he's not gonna be impressed. It will be me who will have to stay focus and not get impressed by the living legend !
Tuesday morning, I was running and I was telling myself : "Wow, I'm going to box against Bernard Hopkins, a living legend in the sport." However, it is essential for me to take this fight as if it was any other fight. But I do realize that it is him, it's big, it's almost like a dream.
With that said, I think I got the right attitude and that I have to keep it that way. I have to see Hopkins as another boxer who wants to stop me from reaching the summit.
I must stay focus on the task at hand. My strategy hasn't been established since we're 3 months away from the fight. I'm back in the gym, light training, a lot of biometry (?). I'll be training my boxing next week.
I must also avoid falling into the trap of Hopkins' age. To me, people are puzzled by his age (45), Hopkins is like wine, he gets better with age. I'm saying that because he has had his best years as a boxer at the end of his tirthies and because that at age 43, he gave a boxing lesson to Pavlik, the man considered to be the future of boxing at that time.
I won't let myself get deceived by his age because he takes care of his body and his health. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes in on the best shape of his life on december 18th.
I have never hesitated to admit that I wished to establish myself as one of the best boxers in the world and it's clear that I'm pleased with the recent rankings. I appreciate the fact that people recognize what I do and the efforts I put together to become the best and give a good show each time I fight.
I believe my fights are always exciting because I give 110% of myself. Some say I get tired towards the end of the rounds. To me, it's just normal because I give the maximum every round. In fact, you can be in the best shape in the galaxy, but something is wrong if you're not tired after the fight. If a boxer is fresh after a fight, it's because he hasn't given it his all.
How can I describe Hopkins ? He is a difficult boxer and we heard the same about Dawson. Some pretended the fight against Dawson would be boring because of his style. But once again, I expect to give a good show and it is certain the fight will be twice as exciting if Hopkins put some ****e.
If I compare the fights against Dawson and Hopkins, I would say that the first was myouth against youth, skills vs skills and intelligence vs intelligence. This time, it will be the young wolf against the clever old fox, youth against experience, and we'll see if the student can surpass the master.
To me, Hopkins is a bigger challenge (than Dawson). Dawson had a similar level of experience to me whereas Hopkins has boxed against Jones Jr, Pavlik, Taylor, Tarver and all the best. We're talking about a boxer who is bounded to the HOF, he knows all the tricks in the book, so I cannot bring nothing to the ring that is gonna surprise him.
Hence, it will be important t stay focus and stick to the gameplan.
On the other side, Hopkins could bring something I'm not expecting and surprise me, so I know I'll get a lot of experience and maturity in this fight.
The site for the fight hasn't been decided yet, it will either Ottawa or Quebec. Ottawa has contacted us because the 18th is a whole event there, not just a date. It has been rare that great boxers have come to Quebec.
We have the chance to match a legend against a yound wolf like me, so people should'nt miss this chance, it could take 15-20 years before such an event happend again here. Got to jump on the occasion, one more ticket sold, one more chance for me to win.
HBO won't televise the fight this fight and it saddens me. However, I know that HBO has some problems with Hopkins. Showtime will be televising and they will invest a big budget to promote the fight.
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