Bernard Hopkins discerns he will be observed as the bad guy when he enters the ring with local favorite Jean Pascal, and he intends to utilize some hockey gear to wipe it in.
He will wear a Philadelphia Flyers jersey with No. 16 on the back into the ring when he fights the WBC light heavyweight champion from Montreal at Bell Centre on Saturday night, Hopkins said.
When Philadelphia had a challenge with the Montreal Canadiens, the number was damaged by Flyers captain Bobby Clarke on two Stanley Cup teams in the 1970s.
Philadelphia native Hopkins said following a rapid exercise at the Underdog Boxing Gym, “Bobby Clarke, Remember the Broad Street Bullies? I got his number. I’m going to take my two front teeth out, too.”
“I’m wearing a Flyers jersey in the ring—that tells you I’m trying to be friends with the fans? The fans are going to be my friends when they watch the fight. You know anyone 40 and up is going to be hollering and screaming for me. I don’t care if they’re Canadians or where they come from.”
Hopkins, a 46 years of age who is becoming the oldest boxers to win a world title since a George Foreman, a 45 years old turned into heavyweight champ with a victor over Michael Moorer in 1994.
Pascal, a 28 years of age of Montreal, will protect his title for the fifth time. It is another game of their Dec. 18 bout in Quebec City, which finished in a draw.
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Definitely looking forward to this match! Too bad I wont be able to be there live in persont o see it.
-Jean