QUEBEC CITY: Bernard Hopkins declared he was robbed of becoming the oldest major world champion in boxing history Saturday when he had to settle for a majority draw against Haitian-born Canadian Jean Pascal.
Pascal inflicted the first two knockdowns suffered by Hopkins in 16 years to keep his World Boxing Council light heavyweight crown before a sellout crowd at Le Colisee that booed the deadlocked verdict with the 45-year-old American.
After 12 rounds a US judge gave Hopkins a 114-112 victory while Canadian and Belgian judges scored the fight a draw by scores of 113-113 and 114-114 respectively. Hopkins enjoyed an unbeaten 10-year reign as a world middleweight champion in a 22-year career while Pascal, 28, was only six years old when Hopkins turned professional in 1988.
The veteran, who turns 46 on January 15, would have broken the age mark set by George Foreman, who was 10 months past his 45th birthday when he knocked out fellow American Michael Moorer in 1994 for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles.
Instead, Hopkins missed his chance at history as his record went to 51-5 with two drawn. “This was sure enough robbery. And this one hurts the sport,” Hopkins said. “One reason fighters from the States don’t like fighting outside the country is stuff like this. I know I won the fight.”
Hopkins claims robbery as Pascal keeps crown
