By Rick Reeno
Former champion Jean Pascal (30-3-1, 17KOs) is potentially going to have an interim-fight prior to facing WBO/WBA/IBF light heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1, 25KOs) for a second time, according to Pascal's manager Greg Leon.
Kovalev stopped Pascal in the eight round of an action filled fight back in March. The two fighters appeared on an HBO televised doubleheader on Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
On Saturday's card, Pascal struggled to win a ten round decision in another fireworks filled fight with previously undefeated Yuienski Gonzalez. Kovalev topped the card with a three round demolition of Nadjib Mohammedi.
Pascal initially thought he had injured his hand in the third. After going to the hospital, it was discovered that he suffered a partial tear in a ligament of his right wrist.
If the injury heals within a reasonable timeframe, then Pascal will have a stay-busy fight before year's end. Kovalev is keeping busy with a planned world title defense in Moscow, Russia on November 28th.
Leon indicates the Kovalev-Pascal rematch will probably happen in the first quarter of 2016, with a February date being the target.
Kovalev's promoter, Kathy Duva of Main Events, told BoxingScene.com that a Pascal rematch had a "good possibility" of coming off early next year.
