Unbeaten light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud doesn’t plan to make things difficult for his next ring appearance. In fact, the sculpted Floridian is stopping just short of signing a blank check in order to agree to terms for a planned summer showdown with former lineal champ Jean Pascal.
BoxingScene.com has been advised that a light heavyweight clash between IBF champion Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19KOs) and former WBC champion Jean Pascal (26-2, 16KOs) is close to being finalized.
Light heavyweights Jean Pascal (26-2, 16KOs) and Tavoris Cloud (23-0, 19KOs) were trading words, as both fighters jumped on their Twitter accounts to explain their sides of the failed negotiations for a possible showdown in December.
The partnership between Groupe Yvon Michel and Golden Boy Promotions, which Michel discussed with BoxingScene.com/Netboxe.com last spring, is finally taking shape. Michel advised Vincent Morin of 24H Journal that one of his boxers, super middleweight Adonis Stevenson (14-1-0), who is the current NABA champion, would return on the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz undercard at the MGM Grand Las Vegas on Sept. 17. Stevenson would face Dion Savage (10-1-0) of Michigan. Another boxer from his stable, not yet identified, will fight on Golden Boy's ESPN televised special on Sept. 16.
BoxingScene.com recently caught up with trainer Al Bonanni to get his take on a potential showdown between his fighter, IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud, and former champion Jean Pascal. An animated Bonanni told BoxingScene that he thinks Pascal's team is avoiding a matchup with the heavy hitter from Florida.
Don Majeski, matchmaker for IBF 168-pound champion Lucian Bute, told BoxingScene.com that Bute is not going to face the IBF's 175-pound champion, Tavoris Cloud, on November 5th. In an earlier report on BoxingScene, Cloud's trainer Al Bonani stated that Majeski reached out to explore a possible Bute-Cloud encounter for the fall. No chance, says Majeski - and Kelly Pavlik is no longer a consideration after turning down a guarantee of $1.35 million dollars.
According to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, a proposed fight between Jean Pascal, and IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud, is being roadblocked because Cloud's promoter, Don King, is demanding options on Pascal. The former WBC light heavyweight champion is currently in Las Vegas and plans to sit ringside as WBA champion Beibut Shumenov defends his title against Danny Santiago at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
BoxingScene.com spoke with legendary promoter Don King, who was in Las Vegas for the kick-off press conference to announce the Showtime Bantamweight Final between IBF champion Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares, which is scheduled for August 13.
According to various sources in Canada, former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (26-2, 16KOs) is possibly going to return on December 17 in Quebec. It would be Pascal's first fight since the May decision loss to Bernard Hopkins. Pascal's opponent has not been determined but IBF champion Tavoris Cloud has been rumored over the last few weeks.
IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud is ready to face Jean Pascal. The bout is being rumored as a possible co-feature to the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson showdown, which is going to take place on October 15th. Cloud returned on Saturday night and stopped Yusaf Mack in the eight round. Pascal was sitting ringside at the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO. Pascal is trying to regroup after going 1-1-1 in his last three fights, and Cloud is looking to add more big names to his record. After he disposed of Mack, Cloud sent a message to Pascal - "If he’s ready, I’m ready. I’m ready for anybody.”