Even if he has Artur Beterbiev in mind, Jean Pascal is well focused on his next fight against Michael Eifert. And he wants to impress the gallery.
“Winning will not be enough for us. You have to impress so that people know that yes, I am 40 years old, but that I can still be dangerous and that I can give quite a challenge to my next fight, against the champion, ”said Pascal in videoconference.
“We absolutely have to impress,” repeated his coach, Orlando Cuellar. It’s always been my mentality as a coach: we must not underestimate our opponent and prepare in the right way, regardless of the boxer who is in front of us. I built my reputation by always being on the side of the underrated boxer. I never found myself in the corner of the favorite. It is these fights that stimulate me. »
Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) is almost 100% recovered from the episode of COVID-19 which forced the postponement of the fight scheduled for February 9 to March 16. The double world champion says he still feels a little tired after being forced into inactivity for “a good two weeks”.
With the mandatory contender for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title held by Montreal’s Artur Beterbive at stake, it would be easy to consider Eifert (11-1, 4 KOs) only as a mere formality. But veteran Pascal has enough experience not to take Eifert lightly.
“We are not looking over Eifert, even if we have enough experience to know what can expect us after, said the veteran pugilist by videoconference. My focus and that of my team is not on Artur Beterbiev, but of course Micheal Eifert. »
“We start training (Monday) for Eifert, who we take very seriously,” added Cuellar. We’re a very experienced team, we’ve worked our way up to the top on a few occasions, and we don’t take anyone lightly. However, we also have the ability to see what will come after our next challenge. As good professionals, Jean and I can carefully watch what is to come and prepare accordingly. »
Its main asset?
“His youth, his appetite, his desire to prove himself, noted Pascal. When you want to prove yourself, you can go beyond your abilities and win fights you weren’t meant to win. I know it: I found myself in this situation in my career. So I have to watch him properly. »
Aging Beterbiev?
The Pascal clan had a view that is sure to stir up some reaction to their possible next opponent: they seem to think that Beterbiev — who successfully defended his IBF, World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC) against England’s Anthony Yarde on Saturday — slowed down.
“I spoke to several people gravitating in the world of boxing after the fight last weekend and the observation that we make is that age seems to have caught up with Beterbiev, noted the promoter of Pascal, Lou Di Bella. He didn’t look as invincible as he used to, which happens to all aging boxers. »
“If your name is Michael Eifert and you see the king of the division looking like he looked on Saturday and you’re about to face a 40-year-old boxer, that can give you a good dose of confidence,” DiBella continued.
Pascal nevertheless made somewhat more nuanced remarks, perhaps wishing not to anger his next opponent.
“That’s what happens when the quality of the opponents is superior. Everyone can look invincible against opponents who are not of quality, ”said the native Lavallois.
However, he considers himself to be in better physical condition than the champion.
“Definitely at 38 I was much fresher than Artur, even though he had a very, very good fight. Even in my last fight, I had a lot more energy than my previous fights. Yes, I’m 40, but that’s a young 40. I have good DNA,” assured Pascal.
He will have to use it against Eifert.
Eight fights will make up this evening presented at Place Bell, as well as on pay-per-view television and the streaming channel GYMboxe.tv. Mathieu Germain (21-2-1, 9 K._O.) will pay the price for the semi-final against Steven Wilcox (24-3-1, 7 K.-O.). Three women’s fights will also be on the program, those of Jessica Camara (10-3, 2 K.-O.), Amanda Gale (7-0-1, 1 K.-O.) and Caroline Veyre (2-0).