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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Jean Pascal: "I Will Surprise
The World"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - Former WBC light heavyweight champion of the
world,
the Montrealer Jean Pascal said that never in his career he
has been so motivated and excited at few days to go in the
ring.
March 14th in the ring of the Bell Centre, Pascal will have
the mission to dethrone the Russian Sergey Kovalev as WBA,
WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion of the world. It will
be the most prestigious fight in the Canadian pro boxing
history involving a Canadian fighter.
“It’s absolutely true, never in my career I have been so
motivated and excited to go in the ring, said Pascal Monday
evening before a media training session in Boucherville, a
little city located on the south shore of Montréal. Its
logical, because I will be involved in few days in the most
important bout in the history of the Canadian boxing. Never
a Canadian boxer has been involved in an unification world
titles fight involving three of the four major crowns..
Kovalev has been established favourite by 4-1 by the
bookies, but believe me, I will surprise the world Match
14th. If Kovalev is the biggest opponent I never got so far,
I am positive he never faced a complete fighter like me. I
know I have the skills, the speed, the mobility and the
intelligence to dominate him and beat him. And I know that
at 32 years old, I am more mature and more crafty than ever.
More mature and more confident then ever. I got a fantastic
training camp in Las Vegas and in Big Bear, in California,
and I am ready for the war now.”
Kovalev, who was WBO champion of the world last October,
became WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion of the
world November 8th at the Boardwalk Arena in Atlantic City,
in beating the veteran Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2) by unanimous
decision. Kovalev won 12 rounds to nothing.
“Kovalev beat easily Hopkins in November, it’s true, but
it’s certainly not the same Bernard Hopkins I faced in 2010
and 2011, said Pascal. Hopkins was younger and more
energetic when I faced him. I am extremely exciting by the
perspective to become back world champion in few days, and
this time, I will detain three major world belts, the
biggest achievement of my life. I want so much to get my
place among the best fighters pound for pound in the world.”
December 18th 2010 in the ring of the Québec City Colisée,
Pascal (29-2-1) got a draw with Hopkins (55-7-2). In the
rematch, presented May 21st 2011 at Bell Centre, Hopkins
dethroned Pascal as WBC 175 pounds champion of the world,
with a win by unanimous decision.
Kovalev (26-0-1) was smiling in listening Pascal talked to
the media. “I am not worried at all, even if I know that
Pascal is the best rival I got so far, said the Russian. I
am positive that Pascal also never faced a rival of my
caliber. I was perfectly concentrate on him during my months
of preparation in Miami, and I am sure I will be ready for
this challenge Saturday. Pascal is a boxer with speed and
mobility, but I am pretty sure he never fought a fighter
big, strong and intense like me, a boxer who can perform
offensively and defensively. I worked so hard to get this
statute the WBA, WBO and IBF champion of the world. Nobody
will dethrone me in the next years.”
Kovalev does not care by the fact that Pascal will fight in
front of his fans. “The spectators will root for Pascal at
Bell Centre, it’s logical, but I know that all the Russian
boxing fans in my country will be behind me when I will show
up in the ring, said Kovalev. My Russian supporters are
pushing me to be better and better, and look the result! I
am detaining three of the four major world titles in the
light heavyweight division, and I want all four before the
end of the year
The only crown missing for Kovalev, is the WBC one, owns by
another Montrealer, Adonis Stevenson. “Stevenson refused to
fight last year, but I still very motivated to fight him to
add the WBC crown to my collection», said Kovalev. However,
my mind is not on Stevenson now. I got too take care of
Pascal in first. I will be perfectly concentrated on the job
to do next Saturday.”
Stevenson (25-0-1), who will face the Australian Sakio Bika
(32-6-3) April 4th in the ring of the Québec City Colisée,
could face the winner of the bout Pascal-Kovalev September
26th in the new Québec Colisée, which will be inaugurated
September 15th. Obviously, Stevenson got to make a fifth
successful defense of his WBC crown April 4th, to get that
chance to dispute a WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF world championship
bout in September.
When a journalist asked him to make a prediction for
Saturday, Pascal laughed. “I will certainly be the winner,
and I hope to win by KO or TKO in the last minute of the
bout”, said Pascal.
A journalist asked the same question to Kovalev. “I like to
win by KO as you know, but if I dominate Pascal like I did
with Hopkins, he will definitively be satisfy of my job,
said the Russian. The KO in not a priority. The priority, is
to leave the ring in the winning shoes.”
Kovalev scored 23 KO or TKO in his 26 wins, against 17 in 29
bouts for Pascal.
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