State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia - For the WBA "regular" light heavyweight title, Jean Pascal (35-6-1, 20 KOs) survived a late scare to win a twelve round split decision over two-division champion Badou Jack (21-3-4, 13 KOs).

The scores were 114-112 for Jack, 114-112 for Pascal, and 114-112 for Pascal.

“Of course I feel I won the fight, but it is what it is,” said Jack, who has now had six of his last eight fights end in draws, split decisions or majority decisions. “He’s got a hell of a chin, he’s a tough warrior and I want to thank him for the opportunity. I thought I was winning but maybe I’m wrong.  I would love a rematch.”

 The first round was very active, both boxers started faster than usual. Pascal was more explosive and Jack was more accurate. The action was similar in the second and third.

Jack rocked Pascal at the start of the fourth and was working him over. Pascal managed to weather the storm. At the end of the round, Pascal landed a big hook that rocked and dropped Jack in sensational fashion.

“I think he caught me up here (on top of head),” Jack said when asked about the fourth-round knockdown. “I didn’t really see the punch.  I wasn’t that hurt but it was a good punch.”

Pascal continued to throw big punches at Jack during the fifth. Jack seemed to edge the sixth with his boxing ability. Pascal came back in the seventh, with a surge in the final minute to rock Jack with a good hook.

During the eight, Jack seemed to rock Pascal with a big hook. Jack was working him over against the ropes, and then Pascal exploded out of nowhere with a flurry of punches. Jack was taking the fight to Pascal in the ninth. A very active tenth with both boxers throwing and landing solid punches. During the tenth Jack was edging out Pascal with the more accurate volume of punches.

In the twelfth, Jack landed a variety of punches to drop Pascal. Pascal made it up, but he was in serious trouble. Jack was looking to finish him off as Pascal was hanging on for dear life. In what was a miracle, Pascal weathered the storm and they were trading in the closing seconds.