(REUTERS) – American Bernard Hopkins will attempt to become the oldest boxer to win a world title when he faces WBC and IBO light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal in a rematch in Montreal today.
The 46-year-old Hopkins is 192 days older than current record holder George Foreman was when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 to reclaim the heavyweight crown.
“For me, personally, it’s a great achievement to be still doing what I do at a high level and to be able to do it and make history at the same time,” Hopkins said this week on a conference call. “This is a game where if you get 10 years out of this sport, you’re considered lucky.”
Hopkins, 51-5-2 (32 KOs), made his professional debut in 1988 and his 23-year career includes a record 20 successful defences over 10 years of the middleweight title he won in 1995 and a victory over Antonio Tarver in 2006 to annex the IBO light-heavyweight crown.
He attributes his longevity simply to dedication and discipline.
“I like to train. I like to run. I like to eat the right foods,” said Hopkins. “This is a habit. It is discipline, never taking anyone lightly, never having an excuse for not being in shape.”
Pascal, 26-1-1 (16 KOs), who is 18 years younger than his opponent, was just six years old when Hopkins first fought professionally and was only 12 when the American defeated Segundo Mercado of Ecuador to win the middleweight belt.
Despite the gulf in experience, the Canadian insists that he is the better fighter and has more tools than Hopkins.
When the two men first met in the ring last December, Pascal appeared to back up that boast early, knocking down Hopkins twice in the first three rounds and rapidly building a large lead on the scorecards.
However, Hopkins adapted to the younger man’s pace and power and dominated down the stretch to secure a draw. Still, he insists that today’s rematch is about more than earning the victory he believes he deserved last time.
“This fight is more about history than redemption,” he said. “It means more to me to break the age record and prove that I am representing not just the older fighters, but older athletes in any sport.”