Bernard Hopkins will have the opportunity to become the WBC light-heavyweight champion when he takes on Jean Pascal in December in Quebec City.
The 45-year-old hasn't fought since winning a unanimous decision against Roy Jones Jr in a rematch that had been 17 years in the making. After the fight Hopkins was said to have collapsed to his knees with many pundits declaring it was time for the American to retire.
"We agreed on everything," Hopkins said. "There is no issue. There is no problem with my side or Pascal's side. The contracts have been drafted. It's a done deal. All I gotta do is sign."
'The Executioner' previously won the lineal light heavyweight title against Antonio Tarver before losing the belt to Britain's Joe Calzaghe. Now he has the chance to once again become a champion less than a month before his 46th birthday.
Pascal, 27, won the title in August when he scored a major upset by defeating Chad Dawson via an 11th round technical decision. With a record of 26 wins and just one loss - to the hands of Carl Froch - the fighter born in Haiti but living in Canada will be a tough test for Hopkins.
Don Majeski, a representative of Pascal declared that his fighter was delighted to have agreed a fight with such a legendary boxer. ""It's a big fight for Pascal and a big fight in Quebec. Hopkins is one of the biggest stars in boxing and those are the kind of fights Pascal wants."
