by Ryan Maquiñana

After BoxingScene.com’s Rick Reeno reported on Sunday that negotiations fell through between former light heavyweight champs Jean Pascal and Zsolt Erdei , Pascal’s promoter Yvon Michel commented on their next step.

“Pascal will still fight in April or May, and so we have a plan to keep him busy until a big fight comes through afterward,” the GYM president said.

Following this implied tune-up bout in the spring, the “big fight” to which Michel alluded would ideally be a rematch with Chad Dawson, whom the Quebec-based Pascal defeated by technical decision in August of 2010.

“We thought we had a fight with Zsolt Erdei, but he changed his mind, but I believe if Chad Dawson really wants to be considered the best light heavyweight in the world, he has to fight Jean Pascal,” Michel argued. “Pascal outboxed him and has the style to beat him any day of the week and give him a second loss.”

Michel hopes that Dawson will return the favor with regard to the circumstances surrounding their first meeting.

“Look, Jean Pascal was the WBC champion and gave him a chance,” he added. “Dawson had nowhere to go, and Dawson even waited for him when Pascal hurt his shoulder. He gave Dawson a chance; too bad Dawson doesn’t feel the same way. A real fighter will try to avenge his greatest losses, so we’ll see about Dawson’s character.”

Ryan Maquiñana writes a weekly column for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (CSNBayArea.com). He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at norcalboxing.net or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.