Haitian-born Canadian Jean Pascal tries to reclaim the world light-heavyweight throne Saturday in a home-nation matchup against Russia's unbeaten Sergey Kovalev, who defends three titles he took from Bernard Hopkins.
Kovalev captured the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation crowns last November with a unanimous 12-round decision over 49-year-old Hopkins, who was trying to extend his record as boxing's oldest major champion.
Instead, Kovalev improved to 26-0 with one drawn and 23 knockouts and finds himself a favorite despite fighting before a crowd of supporters for Pascal, 29-2 with one drawn and 17 knockouts.
Pascal won the World Boxing Council crown with a unanimous 2009 decision over Romania's Adrian Diaconu and defended it three times before Hopkins inflicted two of the stains on Pascal's record.
Hopkins fought Pascal to a draw in 2010 and took a unanimous decision for the crown in 2011 at Montreal. That was the last time Pascal has fought for a world title.
Kovalev's impressive showing against Hopkins and Pascal's comparative struggles with the US veteran are something the challenger dismisses, noting he has never been knocked down in his career.
"Kovalev did a great job against Hopkins, but nobody is perfect," Pascal said. "I love a challenge and Kovalev is a great challenge."
Pascal, 32, won once in each of the past three years, notably over compatriot and former world champion Lucian Bute at Montreal in January of last year. Last December, Pascal had a two-round no contest with Argentina's Roberto Bolonti.
Another Haitian-born Canadian, Adonis Stevenson, owns the weight division's only major crown not at stake Saturday. The 37-year-old southpaw is set to defend the WBC throne April 4 at Quebec City against Cameroon-born Australian Sakio Bika.
Kovalev, 31, says he wants the chance for an undisputed crown but says he is not thinking ahead to a possible Stevenson matchup.
"My next fight is against Pascal," Kovalev said. "I'm not thinking about anything else."
Source: AFP