PLANT CITY, Florida | While Jean Pascal celebrated with his entourage, there was a strong smiling man behind his big beard. Orlando Cuellar knew he had just pulled off a feat with his new colt.
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“Jean had just proven that he has heart in his stomach,” Cuellar said through the cries of Jean Pascal’s supporters. What you saw tonight [vendredi]this is what he experienced during the camp.
“The suffering was the same, but not in the same situation. He was put through hell. Against Meng, he was familiar with this suffering.
“He was able to overcome the difficult times and go to the depths of [ses] resources. This victory is a reflection of what he has been through in recent weeks. »
In recent years, Pascal had significantly reduced his number of rounds with his training partners.
For this matchup, he made a total of 90 with 10 different boxers.
“As we stacked up the rounds, he got better. I had no choice but to give him this workload because of his long inactivity. »
A good association
Pascal and Cuellar were in their first fight together. With the victory against Meng, it’s a safe bet that they will continue their association.
“Our team will remain intact. When you win, there is nothing to change. When you lose, that’s where you have to sit down to fix what went wrong.
“During the fight, it went well. In the heat of the moment, it’s often a question of feelings. We must continue to get to know each other. Tonight, we united our efforts and everything worked out well. »
An effective preparer
If Pascal was able to finish his duel in force, it is because of his physical condition. He can thank Quebecer Julien Hattem.
“When we started working together in January, we started from zero, said the physical trainer. He was not in good shape and he was coming out of a depression.
“The good news is that his body reacted well to stress. It wasn’t pretty the first month, but after that he made steady progress. »
“He saw Jesus everywhere! My goal was to break it. This mental strength, which he acquired during the camp, helped him perform against Meng. »
Hattem grinned broadly after the fight.
“I am very happy for Jean. He has worked hard and he has come a long way. He is rewarded for his efforts. »
It was the first time he had worked with a professional boxer. He can say: mission accomplished.