WBA Regular light-heavyweight title holder Jean Pascal believes he will prove his supremacy when he resumes hostilities with two-weight champion Badou Jack in their eagerly-awaited rematch at Miami Gardens on June 6.
Pascal withstood a late rally and 12th round knockdown to pip Jack via split decision in Atlanta in December 2019. A rematch was agreed almost immediately but then delayed by the onset of Covid-19.
Now the battle-tested veterans will finally meet again in the chief undercard attraction on the Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul PPV event, with Canadian Pascal keen to show he is the better man.
First time around, Pascal built an early lead and scored a fourth-round knockdown before complacency kicked in, with a pro-Jack crowd making their disapproval known when the decision was announced. The champion believes he will finally put their rivalry to rest in 10 days’ time.
“I’m very excited about the rematch. I’ve been training in Puerto Rico since December. I’ve been waiting this whole time for the rematch and I’m ready. I respect Badou, but he’s always whining after he loses. The judges said I won the [first] fight and that’s it,” said Pascal.
“The first fight, in the first six rounds, I did everything well. I might have gotten a little overconfident. I took it a bit too easy after that. The fight got close because of that knockdown he got that wasn’t from a real punch. Without that, it wouldn’t have even been close. We’re going to settle this June 6 in Miami.
“I think I just have to pace myself a little better this fight. I got over excited because I’ve sparred with Badou before and know what I can do. I am a veteran, so I shouldn’t have gotten too excited like that. As far as knocking him down again in this fight, my mom taught me that anything you can do once, you can do twice.
“I do believe that Badou respects my power. If he doesn’t, then he better watch that fourth round again. But I also have skills with my power. I am naturally-gifted and I have the better skills. I was born for this sport and built to win.
“He’s coming for revenge and I’m coming with bad intentions. It’s going to be a great show, so make sure you tune-in for this one.”
Main image: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.