Pascal: I Love Being the Underdog Against Kovalev
Jan 14, 2015 • 3:20 AM ET
by David P. Greisman
Jean Pascal has seen the betting odds that list him as the underdog for his bout against Sergey Kovalev, airing March 14 on HBO from the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Pascal enjoys playing that role, however, he said during a Jan. 14 press conference.
He does respect what the three-belt titleholder brings to the ring.
“Kovalev is a great champion. … He’s going to be very hard to beat, because he does everything well,” Pascal said.
Greg Leon, who heads up Jean Pascal Promotions, called Kovalev the true light heavyweight king and a monster. “We welcome that opposition,” he said.
Without mentioning Adonis Stevenson by name, Leon said “We can all agree Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal are the two best light heavyweights in the world who are willing to fight each other.”
But he also noted that both men “face challenges to each other that they’ve never faced before.”
Kovalev, he said, is stronger than anyone Pascal’s ever faced, while Pascal is more athletic than any of Kovalev’s previous opponents.
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