Hopkins-Pascal WBC title rematch ordered

NEW YORK (AFP) - World Boxing Council officials have ordered a rematch between Canada’s Jean Pascal and American Bernard Hopkins, whose bid to become boxing oldest world champion ended in a controversial draw last month.

Sanctioning body president Jose Sulaiman sent a letter to both camps ordering a rematch of the December 18 bout in Quebec City rather than Pascal’s planned title defense against US fighter Chad Dawson.

“The WBC board of governors has voted in favor of ordering the immediate rematch,” Sulaiman wrote. “The winner of this fight has the obligation to fight Chad Dawson immediately without any intervening contest.”

Nine days before his 46th birthday, Hopkins was given a second chance to become the oldest major world champion in boxing history, a mark that now belongs to US heavyweight legend George Foreman. Foreman was 10 months past his 45th birthday when he knocked out countryman Michael Moorer in 1994 for the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles.

Hopkins was elated at the WBC’s decision.

“I would like to thank Jose Sulaiman and the WBC board of governors for ordering an immediate rematch between Pascal and I,” Hopkins said. “This is a great thing for boxing and hopefully fans will get to see another great fight with Pascal and I. I’m looking forward to starting off the New Year by making history as the oldest athlete to win a major championship in any sport.”

Hopkins, who enjoyed an unbeaten 10-year reign as a world middleweight champion in a 22-year career, claimed after the fight that his rightful victory and place in fight history was stolen by judges.

“This was sure enough robbery. And this one hurts the sport,” Hopkins said after the draw. “One reason fighters from the States don’t like fighting outside the country is stuff like this. I know I won the fight.”

A US judge gave Hopkins a 114-112 victory over Pascal while Canadian and Belgian judges scored the fight a draw by 113-113 and 114-114 respectively, giving Pascal a record of 26-1-1 while Hopkins went to 51-5 with two drawn.

“If this guy has a backbone and wants to walk around with any kind of dignity and self-worth, the only thing he can do is fight me again,” Hopkins said after the fight.

“If that was me I know that’s the only way I could really live with myself.”

Pascal, 28, was only six years old when Hopkins turned professional in 1988.

Hopkins and Pascal promoters have 30 days to reach a deal or a purse bid will be ordered.