Pascal back in action 4/4!
By Dave Spencer / Fightnews Canada
Jean Pascal (21-1 14KO) returns home to his Montreal fans for the first time in over a year-and-a-half as he headlines the April 4th show at the Casino de Montreal. This marks the first fight for the super-middleweight since his championship loss versus Carl Froch as he looks to get back on track against fellow title contender Pablo Nievas (22-5-1 15KO) of Argentina. “This is the fight where we see where he can go and what he has learnt,” said promoter Yvon Michel of Pascal who went twelve versus Froch for the vacant WBC title and came out on the wrong end of a unanimous decision.
Pascal believes the lessons will serve him well as he tries to climb back up. “I learned a lot from my fight against Carl Froch,” said the contender who still sits at #4 in the WBC, I have lots of enthusiasm as I climb back up into the ring in front of my fans. I always have as objective to becoming the best in my division and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get there.”
His opponent Nievas also went 12 rounds in his world title opportunity when despite some early trouble he lasted the distance with Anthony Mundine in the Australian’s first defense in 2007. The bout was one of only two fights the 28 year-old has boxed outside of his native South America. On the line will be the vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-middleweight Championship.
Featured on the undercard will be undefeated Olivier Lontchi (17-0-2 7KO) as he battles Cecilio Santos (23-9-3 13KO). Santos has battled for a world championship in three of his last four fights including a draw against Dmitri Kirillov for the IBF super flyweight title. Santos also lost out on the WBO version of the 115 pound belt to Fernando Moniel and the WBA bantamweight title he lost to Anselmo Moreno. Promoter Yvon Michel was very happy with the choice of opponent for Lontchi who is ranked top twelve by all four sanctioning bodies and as high as number three by the WBA. “Three of his last four fights have been significant ones and for world championships, we’re very happy to have Olivier to get this chance and to be able to have a big fight and prove himself.”
Also on the card will be former Canadian heavyweight champion Patrice L’Heureux, David Lemieux, the return of Ahmad Cheiko, and Logan McGuinness.
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