You should never believe any of this boxing press conference stuff.

I am not saying it is staged, but it is all for promotion and hype.  Hopkins and Pascal have a rematch schedule for May 21st after their first fight ending in a disputed draw last year.

For whatever reason Pascal wanted to rant about drug testing and I’ll let The Sweet Science pick it up from here.

Standing on the stage, mike in hand, shouting, with Hopkins five feet away, grinning, Pascal ranted, “The fans are asking are you willing to take the test. Are you willing to take the test?” He was referring to testing for illegal performance enhancers above and beyond what the Canadian commission calls for. The mood wasn’t overly heated, as Hopkins smiled and Pascal had a tiny hint of a grin on his face. But as Pascal moved towards Hopkins, and screamed, “Are you willing to take the test?” again, Hopkins, patience exhausted,  put down a folder he was carrying, and shoved Pascal back a few feet, into his promoter, Yvon Michel.

Props to Pascal, he wasn’t put off. “Are you willing to take the test?” he continued to rant. “Not for me, for the fans!”

“You’re scared,” Hopkins countered. Pascal then swatted him with his right hand, and Hopkins swatted back with his left. Neither blow was meaningful. Hopkins tried to get at Pascal, who kept on screaming about the test, but order was restored, by and large, as Pascal continued his rant.

“Cheater,” Pascal screamed as he was led outside.

Just a bunch of nothing, that people will make into something.  Bernard Hopkins has been called a lot of things, but a steroid user he isn’t one of them.  Just looked like Pascal needed something to talk loudly about.

Hopkins always looking for ways to make a fight interesting, decided on the little shove to make sure the press conference received some mainstream attention which it now has.

Should be a good fight as Hopkins continues to amaze even at age 46.