Canadian Jean Pascal is set to face one of the biggest names in boxing - former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.
Promoter Yvon Michel said Friday that contracts have been signed for WBC light heavyweight champion Pascal (26-1, 16 knockouts) to fight 45-year-old Hopkins (51-5-1, 32 KOs) on Dec. 18 at the Pepsi Colisee in Quebec City.
"''This will be the biggest fight by a Canadian in Canada since (George) Chuvalo fought (Muhammed) Ali in 1966 (in Toronto)," said Michel.
They had hoped to have the bout in Pascal's hometown of Montreal, but the venue of choice, the Bell Centre, is booked that night for a Cirque du Soleil show.
A second world title fight is expected to be added to the card, which will air on Showtime pay-per-view.
Michel did not reveal the purse, but said it will be the biggest payday of Pascal's career, topping the $1-million he earned for a title defence against Chad Dawson on Aug. 14.
The 27-year-old Pascal won the WBC title in June 2009 and has defended it three times, but has yet to face an opponent of Hopkins' stature, even if the veteran from Philadelphia looks to be past his prime.
Hopkins is coming off a 12-round win by decision over the faded Roy Jones Jr. in April that was panned by critics as lacklustre.
However, only two years ago Hopkins defeated then-rising star Kelly Pavlik, six months after losing a split decision to super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe.
The list of Hopkins' opponents is a who's who of boxing from the past 15 years, with wins over Oscar de la Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Syd Vanderpool of Kitchener, Ont., William Joppy, Howard Eastman, Antonio Tarver and Ronald (Winky) Wright, plus a pair of losses to Jermain Taylor in 2005.
While a middleweight (160 pounds) most of his career, Hopkins has fought at or near the 175-pound light heavyweight limit in four of his last six bouts.
"Bernard Hopkins is a master of two things - intimidating opponents and adapting to opponents," said Michel. "He's the best ever for being able to adapt.
"He sets traps, he holds, he pushes, he jumps, he hits and then gets in position so he doesn't get hit back. Jean will have to dictate the pace, control the middle of the ring and use his speed. But it's a complicated fight. There will have to be a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C to keep him off-balance."
Pascal was considered the underdog against previously unbeaten Dawson, but used his speed and an attacking style to be clearly the better fighter in a bout stopped in the 11th round due to a cut to the American's eye from an accidental head butt.
"Especially in the States, people believe Hopkins is too experienced for Jean, but we see it as a chance to show the world that Jean Pascal is the best light heavyweight in the world," said Michel.