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By Cliff Rold - By Cliff Rold
With Joe Calzaghe retired, Bernard Hopkins possibly out of action through 2009, and the ultra-talented Chad Dawson in search of an audience, Light Heavyweight needed a spark. It got one Friday night in front of a feverish, packed crowd at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Twelve rounds of vicious battle ended with both men elevated as Adrian Diaconu (26-1, 15 KO) came off the floor to survive a rough fifth round only to see his WBC belt wind up around the waist of a gutsy, commanding Jean Pascal (23-1, 15 KO) who refused to let his second title opportunity get away. In the end, the 26-year old Pascal left with a unanimous decision win but it was never easy.
Both men came in under the 175 lb. limit, Pascal at 174 ¼ and Diaconu, 31, at 173 ¼.
The fight had the flavor of a backyard brawl as both, Pascal from Haiti and Diaconu from Romania, had made their bones in Montreal. The fans that have followed their careers were well rewarded. [details]
With Joe Calzaghe retired, Bernard Hopkins possibly out of action through 2009, and the ultra-talented Chad Dawson in search of an audience, Light Heavyweight needed a spark. It got one Friday night in front of a feverish, packed crowd at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Twelve rounds of vicious battle ended with both men elevated as Adrian Diaconu (26-1, 15 KO) came off the floor to survive a rough fifth round only to see his WBC belt wind up around the waist of a gutsy, commanding Jean Pascal (23-1, 15 KO) who refused to let his second title opportunity get away. In the end, the 26-year old Pascal left with a unanimous decision win but it was never easy.
Both men came in under the 175 lb. limit, Pascal at 174 ¼ and Diaconu, 31, at 173 ¼.
The fight had the flavor of a backyard brawl as both, Pascal from Haiti and Diaconu from Romania, had made their bones in Montreal. The fans that have followed their careers were well rewarded. [details]
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