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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
John David Jackson: "This Time,
Sergey
Is Gonna Win In Five Rounds Or Less"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - Former super welterweight and middleweight
champion of the world, John David Jackson, the Sergey
Kovalev’s trainer, has the conviction his fighter gonna win
the rematch with the Montrealer Jean Pascal by TKO or KO in
five round or less, Saturday evening in the ring of the Bell
Centre in Montréal.
“Sergey got a perfect training camp", said Jackson. "He is
perfectly prepared mentally, technically and strategically
like usual, and more motivated to win than ever. Pascal
insulted Sergey publicly in the last weeks, and the Pascal’s
attitude just increased the Sergey’s motivation. Pascal
ignored it, but his minding game gonna play against himself.
More the big moment is closed, more I have the conviction
that Sergey gonna win by TKO or KO in five rounds or less.
Sergey attacked severely Pascal in the first fight last
March, but his attacks gonna be certainly more intense in
this rematch. Sergey is really determinate to destroyed
Pascal in less than eight rounds this time, and I strongly
believe he will do it. Sergey is clearly on fire actually.”
March 14th, again at Bell Centre, Kovalev (28-0-1), who is
now ranked among the 10 best fighters pound for pound in the
world, made a successful first defence of his WBA, WBO and
IBF light heavyweight championships of the world, in beating
Pascal (30-3-1) by TKO in the eighth round.
Pascal criticized the Porto Rican referee Luis Pabon because
he declared him TKO in the eighth round. For Pascal, it was
a first defeat by TKO in his boxing career. Kovalev was
hitting severely Pascal in a corner, when Pabon intervened
to stop the fight.
“Sergey is right, Pascal should thanks Pabon instead
criticized him, said Jackson. If Pabon would not stop the
bout in the eight round March 14th, Pascal could be injured
seriously. Pascal was clearly in troubles. Sergey is right,
Pabon save Pascal to serious consequences in stopping the
bout. Pascal was on the way to go on the canvas for the
count of 10. I maintaining my prediction, this time Pascal
won’t reach the eighth round. His suffering session will be
shorter this time…”
Obviously, the new Pascal’s trainer, the Californian Freddie
Roach, is not agree at all with Jackson. “Jean showed a
great determination during his training camp, and he will
need to show the same intensity in this rematch, said Roach.
No doubt in my mind, Jean was not enough intense and
aggressive in his first match up with Kovalev. last March.
Against Kovalev, it’s a must to be extremely intense and
energetic. Jean knows it, and I know it. I liked very much
the way that Jean was fighting in our sparring sessions in
California, and I am expecting the same thing next Saturday
evening. Jean is looking very motivated, and it’s a positive
sign. Jean is a strong puncher, then, he has the weapon to
hurt Kovalev. But against Kovalev, a fighter got to touch
the target often, a lot of more often than Jean did March
14th.”
A writer asked to Roach if this rematch with Kovalev is
happening too soon for Pascal. “To be honest, if the
decision would be mine in that file, I would involved Jean
in a tune up bout before take this rematch with Kovalev,
said Roach. Yes, I would prefer to see Jean test in a tune
up bout, this great intensity he showed me in all the
sparring sessions in California. But the rematch will happen
Saturday, then, we are dealing with it. I am still very
optimistic for my fighter. Jean is so motivated by this
rematch. He showed it clearly in training in the last two
months. I am persuaded that Jean will be a lot of better
than he was in March. No doubt, he has the weapons to win
this rematch.”
Roach is a prestigious trainer. He is working with several
stars on the international scene, including the Filipino
Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2), the American Peter Quillin
(32-1-1), the Mexicans Israel Vasquez and Julio Cesar Chavez
Jr., (49-2-1), the Porto Rican Miguel Cotto (40-5-0), the
Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0-0), the Hawaiian Brian
Viloria (36-5-0) and the British Amir Khan (31-3-0).
For John David Jackson, a Jean Pascal improved technically
and strategically is not possible in the circumstances. “A
new Jean Pascal a lot of better this time? Come on!, said
Jackson. He is 33 years old and he has 11 years of
experience in pro boxing. He is not a rookie. I am positive
that Pascal, next Saturday, will be the same fighter he
always been. And the Jean Pascal we know has absolutely no
chance to win against Sergey. I am so impatient to hear the
first bell Saturday, and believe me, Sergey is feeling
exactly like me. I am expecting that Sergey will offer us
one of the greatest performance of his career in few days.”
Pascal, obviously, is totally disagree with Jackson. “The
Kovalev’s clan can believe what it wants, Jackson and
Kovalev will have a huge surprise if they believe seriously
I cannot perform more I did March 14th, said Pascal. I am
the first one to admit that I did not fight well March 14th.
In few days, you will see in action the real Jean Pascal. No
doubt in my mind, the result will be totally different. I am
so motivated to kick the Kovalev’s butt. Freddie Roach is
right, I got to be more intense and aggressive in this
rematch, and trust me, I will be. If Kovalev cannot wait to
hear the first bell Saturday evening, it’s the same thing
for me. I am determinate to become back world champion, and
I will achieve it. The real Jean Pascal deserves to be world
champion, and he has his place among the best fighters on
the planet.”
Kathy Duva, the big boss of Main event, the promoter of
Kovalev, is expecting a solid performance from his fighter
Saturday evening. “Sergey is always fighting with intensity
and concentration, and I am sure he will do it again
Saturday evening. With all the bad comments he did on
Sergey, Pascal could not find a better way to increase the
Sergey’s motivation. Yes, I am more than optimistic for
Sergey.”
Kovalev, Pascal, Roach and Jackson will gather Wednesday at
noon,at the Montréal Casino, where the promoter of InterBox,
Jean Bédard, will hold the final press conference of this
HBO boxing show.
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