Dawson Is A Paper Champ —Pascal

Former light-heavyweight world champion Jean Pascal has backed Bernard Hopkins over his controversial TKO loss to Chad Dawson a fortnight ago, labeling the younger man a ‘paper champ’.

Dawson won the WBC title on 15 October after appearing to throw the veteran to the canvas causing him to pick up a shoulder injury that rendered him unfit to continue.

The World Boxing Council has since ruled the fight a technical draw but await the review of the California State Athletic Commission after the referee called it in favour of Dawson, and Pascal believes Hopkins should be given the ‘benefit of the doubt’.

“I think we have no choice but to give Bernard the benefit of the doubt, because Bernard is 46 and at that age the bones are more fragile Pascal told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

“I think Chad was winning the fight, but we all know that Bernard starts to get active after the fifth round. Hopkins knows all the tricks in the game, so to beat him you have to be patient and you have to be really, really smart,” said Pascal.

—Bimbo Ajayi