His repeat loss to Sergey Kovalev was supposed to forever end Jean Pascal’s days as a relevant player in the light heavyweight division. It was something he perhaps realized himself after declaring he was done for good with the sport following an upset knockout win over then-unbeaten Ahmed Elbiali around this time two years ago.
Yet, the 37-year old former lineal light heavyweight king somehow ends the decade the same way he entered—among the best light heavyweights in the world and once again in a virtual pick-‘em fight. This one comes versus former two-division titlist Badou Jack (22-2-3, 13KOs) this weekend at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia (Saturday, SHOWTIME, 9:00pm ET), with major title fight implications awaiting the winner.
The secret to his ability to hover around the top level? A lot of hard work in the gym and from those closest to him.
“I want to thank my co-advisor, Greg Leon,” Pascal (34-6-1, 20KOs) said of his longtime advisor, who helped launch BoxingTalk.com—which he still owns and operates—along with his years-long efforts in the light heavyweight’s career. “He’s a young advisor but one of the best in the business. That’s why I’m still here. He’s the main reason why after 11 years that I am still here.
“I had a great training camp in Puerto Rico. I’ve been away from my family for 12 weeks, 3 months. I am war ready.”
Pascal’s nearly unrivaled résumé over that stretch is also a testament to why he can still run with the bulls more than a decade after his first title win. Still, there has been far more pain than glory since his title-winning effort in his first of two wins over Adrian Diaconu way back in 2009, as well as a considerable fall from grace after outpointing Chad Dawson to claim lineal championship status in Aug. 2010.
Losses to Bernard Hopkins (following a disputed 12-round draw), Kovalev (twice), countryman Eleider Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol have all come in the wake of the best win of his career nearly a decade ago. The one-sided loss to unbeaten Bivol last November was dismissed as a mismatch and complete with cries that he no longer belongs at the top level.
Those same claims preceded his clash with unbeaten Marcus Browne this past August. Seven rounds and three knockdowns later come one of the more significant upsets and a path to one more night on the A-side as a defending interim titlist versus Jack, fittingly an opponent who has persevered amidst criticism that he was never supposed to reach this stage.
“To quote the great Roger Mayweather—people don’t know shit about boxing,” Pascal quipped during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference for Saturday’s Showtime-televised tripleheader. “That’s the story of my life. I have been fighting at this highest level for the past 11 years. I am a special fighter.
“I have two things nobody can teach. I have a chin and I have heart. You can’t teach those things.”
Pascal-Jack serves in supporting capacity to Gervonta Davis’ clash with Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-2, 18KOs) for a vacant lightweight title.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BosingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox