While some of the success of the card has to do with Pascal’s own popularity and him being well-known to a lot of casual boxing fans, it’s also a sign that Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) is quickly picking up a lot of fans.
By Dan Ambrose: Two days after his disappointing 8th round knockout loss to IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada, #1 WBO, #6 WBA Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) says he’ll be back, and that this loss to Kovalev is not the end of his career.
Pascal is in a tough situation as far as him having a chance of ever winning another world title. Unless he goes after the belt held by WBA regular light heavyweight champion Jurgen Braehmer, Pascal is going to have to be content with watching Kovalev hold all the belts for the next four to five years, possibly more.
(Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events) By Dan Ambrose: Last night, former WBC 175 pound belt holder Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) was saved from himself by referee Luis Pabon who did Pascal a big favor in stopping his fight against IBF, WBA, WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) in the 8th round with Pascal still on his feet and in command of his mental faculties at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Pascal was batted around the ring in the 8th round until the referee stopped the fight after Pascal took two right hands that he didn’t even try and block from Kovalev.
Pabon could have let the fight continue, but he would have left Pascal in a position where he’d have risked getting dropped hard. Pascal looked like he was only a couple punches away from getting knocked out.
Pascal was hurt badly in the 8th round with a left hand shot from Kovalev that sent Pascal falling against the ropes. The action was briefly stopped by referee Luis Pabon.
In the much-anticipated main event of the evening, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs)* and Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) pleased fans with an action-packed battle. Both fighters started by trading some good shots, but Kovalev started to throw some nasty combinations in the third round to take the wind out of the hostile crowd at the Centre Bell in Montreal. Just before the end of the third round, Kovalev knocked Pascal through the ropes but Pascal was saved by the bell. Sergey came out swinging in the fourth to try to capitalize on the near KO, but Pascal managed to stay on his feet and land a huge right to show Kovalev he was still in the fight. As the bell rang to end the fourth round, both men were still trading big shots.
(Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events) By Jim Dower: IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) stopped former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) by an 8th round TKO on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Kovalev knocked Pascal down in the 4th and 8th rounds. The fight was halted after Pascal got up from the knockdown and took two big right hands while trapped in the corner. Pascal barely stand at the time. Referee Luis Pabon halted the fight at 1:03 of the 8th.
By Dan Ambrose: IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) can put himself in position to get a shot at the WBC 175 pound title if he defeats challenger Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) tonight in their fight on HBO Championship Boxing from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
The World Boxing Council mandated that Kovalev will become the WBC 175 mandatory challenge if he defeats Pascal tonight. Pascal decided that he doesn’t want to be included on being able to fight for the WBC title, so even if he wins tonight, he won’t be the mandatory for the WBC title. It’s unclear why Pascal made that move. It’s anyone’s guess.
By Dan Ambrose: This Saturday night’s match-up between IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) and Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) will be determined by the conditioning of the two fighters, says Pascal’s strength and conditioning trainer Angel Heredia.
He notes that both fighters have excellent punching power, excellent boxing skills, and more than enough hand speed to get the job done. However, Heredia thinks it’s going to come down to the conditioning of the two fighters when they fight each other at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
By Dan Ambrose: Tomorrow night, former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) is going to be really up against it in his fight against IBF/WBA/WBO 175 pound champion Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) in their fight on HBO Championship Boxing from the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada.