HBO trying to make Ward vs. Pascal

Yeah he will, Pascal's defense has gone from suspect to nonexistent. but Ward won't be fighting with the same ferocity that Kovalev does. I don't think that it's inconceivable that Ward stops Pascal late, but he isn't gonna go in there and pummel Pascal, hammering through the guard like Kova did, and it took Kovalev a lot of effort to get Pascal out of there. Ward just doesn't fight with that intensity, he'll out manoeuvre and out hustle Pascal, landing pot shots left, right and centre and eventually Pascal might wilt, but Pascal's a tough guy and I can see him taking those shots and still standing at the final bell.

Not really a measuring stick. Kovalev is a non stop concussive puncher. Ward's more of a technician, he won't KO Pascal like Kovalev did, he'll cruise to a wide points decision as he won't apply the same power or pressure which Sergey did. It's hard really as the only really interesting fights for Ward are Kova or Stevenson, so everything else seems a bit meh. I think I'd rather see Ward v Cleverly than Pascal, just on the basis that Pascal will be content to lose once he realises he's out of his league, at least someone like Cleverly or Fonfara would keep applying pressure and trying to win. Just for entertainment value I'd rather see one of those two fight Ward than Pascal, but all of them would lose anyway. Not sure why we're waiting so long for Kova v Ward, they're both willing to fight apparently, the networks want it, so get it done for the summer. Yeah he will, Pascal's defense has gone from suspect to nonexistent.

Pascal's tank is on empty though. Other than right hand target practice (for which Pascal will be open for all night), this fight, IMO, is pointless and probably not even marketable. Ward/HBO can definitely fight someone that would get fans a little bit more excited about a fight, like a top 10 LHW. Alvarez would have been the obvious guy to go after, but it looks like Kovalev is rumored to fight him? Then you look at the other names and you think about HBO and how strict they are now with their budget, they likely want "familiar" names. Remember they gave Arum a hard time about Lomachenko vs Walters, a very good fight. So it doesn't look like HBO cares about actual good fights, just putting familiar names in the ring. They probably just like the sound of Ward vs Pascal cause fans are so familiar with these two.

Why not Shabranskyy who is with Golden Boy and just beat Yuniesky 8 rounds to 2 and hurt him multiple times something Pascal couldn't do. He also has the most similar style to Kovalev as anyone in the division.

Being from Montreal, I can tell you that as of yesterday and from Interbox itself Pascal is not looking for a fight before September... Stevenson is scheduled to fight on July 29th against the winner of the Rodiguez / Williams Jr fight on April 30th, then he would take Alvarez in fall... Beterbiev will fight for his comeback on June 4th against a still to be confirmed boxer (talks under way)... No news whatsoever about Pascal and/or Alvarez as far as possibilities for June 25th...

Man if Stevenson ducks his mandatory Alvarez, this guy can go down as the biggest joke alive. That would make Hopkins, Pascal, and Alvarez that Stevenson has ducked and Kovalev has fought instead. Man, it's not like Alvarez is anything special either. Why is Stevenson running from him? Ward vs. Pascal? Not interested. Kovalev has beaten everything out of Pascal. Although TBRB, ESPN, and Boxing Scene still have him in the top 10 at LHW. I'd still rather see Ward-Shabranskyy. Agreed x100. Kovalev left Pascal like a birthday pinata. At this rate, Ward would probably stop Pascal too, and that's probably why HBO would want to make that match-up.

Pascal needs time to rest and an easy fight if he fights on. Ward needs to face someone else, this fight would prove nothing. Ward needs to face a test or Kov destroys him.

Ward just needs to fight.

Pascal has lost almost every time he's stepped up in comp, plus he put on a lot of mileage from two Kovalev beatdowns. Ward puts the final nail in Pascal's coffin.

Pascal would simply be a stay busy fight for Ward. It's not a compelling match up imo.

Pascal's tank is on empty though. Other than right hand target practice (for which Pascal will be open for all night), this fight, IMO, is pointless and probably not even marketable. I cant believe someone who was a world champion and naturally gifted like he is/was always leans to the right in line for a str8 right

Id rather see Ward in with someone fresh...Pascal has been in tough damn near every fight since fighting froch years ago....he may not win them all but this cat has heart Chilemba, Fonfara would be nice

why would anyone wanna see this fight from a technical stand point? I feel like only casuals feel like this could be a decent matchup and only because they know his name. Ward has very good defense and is a tactical wiz and pascal is easily hit, throws far too wide punches and his only shot will be by ko, which he's never really done vs the elite. It'll be a blowout and worse it won't prepare ward for kovalev because he such an awkward, unique matchup. I'd take cleverly or an euro dude over this.

Only thing that bothers me is that Pascal is not top 10 anymore, which is what Ward should be looking to fight. On the positive side, if it happens he is staying active before fighting Kovalev. I think because of the styles, Pascal may give Ward a tougher time than he gave Kovalev, like Kov vs Pascal 1 but only it goes 12. Pascal's tank is on empty though. Other than right hand target practice (for which Pascal will be open for all night), this fight, IMO, is pointless and probably not even marketable.

Your source is Steve Kim saying "Some dude from Oakland tweeted me that they were giving away tickets for some random contest this one time so let me extrapolate from that that they gave away half their tickets" Critics have nothing to talk about now that they see Ward vs Kovalev will actually happen. They're now talking about tickets. Next, after the fight is over and Ward gets his hands raised you will see them post about headbutts and hugging and make video documentation of all 'dirty moves' Ward did to win. Before all this, it's that Kovalev will KO Ward and that Ward won't fight him.

Only thing that bothers me is that Pascal is not top 10 anymore, which is what Ward should be looking to fight. On the positive side, if it happens he is staying active before fighting Kovalev. I think because of the styles, Pascal may give Ward a tougher time than he gave Kovalev, like Kov vs Pascal 1 but only it goes 12.

only from people that actually went and even boxing reporters but i guess they don't hold any weight with you? i get my info from people that cover boxing and who have actual sources. i dont just make it up like floyd fans. could i be wrong? maybe but so much evidence says i am right. also yes its a fact they gave away free tickets. people have come out and showed them/told their stories. sorry you don't like it. its also a fact that they count ticket sales to ticket brokers as tickets sold. im sorry you don't like their tricks but thats the truth. i put all this evidence into my brain and i reach the conclusion that the numbers they are giving us are not the real numbers of how many people bought tickets or how many people went. i could be wrong but based on the evidence i don't think i am. Your source is Steve Kim saying "Some dude from Oakland tweeted me that they were giving away tickets for some random contest this one time so let me extrapolate from that that they gave away half their tickets"

Can you give a link to your sources? So we can see this evidence for ourselves? I was there so his whole "people didnt show up" line is crap

only from people that actually went and even boxing reporters but i guess they don't hold any weight with you? i get my info from people that cover boxing and who have actual sources. i dont just make it up like floyd fans. could i be wrong? maybe but so much evidence says i am right. Can you give a link to your sources? So we can see this evidence for ourselves?

None of what you said has been substantiated by anyone. only from people that actually went and even boxing reporters but i guess they don't hold any weight with you? i get my info from people that cover boxing and who have actual sources. i dont just make it up like floyd fans. could i be wrong? maybe but so much evidence says i am right. also yes its a fact they gave away free tickets. people have come out and showed them/told their stories. sorry you don't like it. its also a fact that they count ticket sales to ticket brokers as tickets sold. im sorry you don't like their tricks but thats the truth. i put all this evidence into my brain and i reach the conclusion that the numbers they are giving us are not the real numbers of how many people bought tickets or how many people went. i could be wrong but based on the evidence i don't think i am.