(Plant City) “You can say a lot about me, but you can’t say I’m lazy. Because yes, Jean Pascal has “worked hard” for his Friday night fight against Meng Fanlong in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida.
Posted at 2:26 p.m.
Updated at 2:43 p.m.
The Quebec boxer is not the only one to say it. His trainer Orlando Cuellar praised him on Thursday, on the sidelines of the official weigh-in between the two pugilists.
The event took place in Plant City, in the complex surrounded by palm trees of the new ProBox TV service, broadcaster of Friday’s fight at the same place. The weights for this brawl in the light-heavyweight? Pascal (35-6-1, 20 KOs) weighs 175 pounds; the Chinese Meng Fanlong (17-0, 10 K. -O.) makes 174.6.
“The first two weeks were very difficult for him, explains Cuellar about his protege. I could see it on his face, on his body. »
Pascal and his new coach started working together just six weeks before the May 20 clash. “We had to fight against time,” he says, while mentioning that his boxer was in good physical shape even before going to Florida.
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Jean Pascal and his coach, Orlando Cuellar
And the Quebecer was quickly challenged by the methods of his coach, who calls himself “intense” and “physical”.
“When we first met, I told him that we were training from Monday to Saturday. He replied that he took Thursday off. OK no problem. »
“Then we come to the first week,” says Cuellar with a smile. We do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… Already, it was difficult for him, with the intense training that I made him do. But he didn’t say a word. Nothing about Thursday either. And I didn’t say anything either. So on Thursday, we went back to work. His only day off was Sunday. »
He compliments the “real professionalism” of Jean Pascal.
“Everything went well, adds the one who is recognized in particular for having led Glen Johnson to two world titles at light heavyweight. He’s a veteran, I’m a veteran. We each have a lot of experience. It was easy to get what I needed. »
“We are going to see the Jean Pascal that everyone wants to see”
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
“In my experience and what I’ve seen, all those months haven’t done him any harm. Think about it. He was not hit on the head. He did not torture his body. He did not suffer. In fact, what he did was to rejuvenate at the boxing level. These months have done him more good than harm,” said Jean Pascal’s trainer.
Jean Pascal is 39 years old. The last time he fought professionally was in December 2019. These 29 months of inactivity were “long, very long”, underlines the boxer.
“It’s time for me to get back in the ring. »
His coach sees it differently.
“In my experience and what I’ve seen, all those months haven’t done him any harm. Think about it. He was not hit on the head. He did not torture his body. He did not suffer. In fact, what he did was to rejuvenate at the boxing level. These months have done him more good than harm. »
By mimicking a peeling gesture on his arm, Cuellar metaphorizes by pointing out that he “removed layers of rust” on Jean Pascal. “Rust from inactivity, not age. »
“This guy is amazing,” he adds. He was able to recover, and now we are going to see the Jean Pascal that everyone wants to see. An explosive and exciting boxer. »
Meng Fanlong, into the unknown
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Meng Fanlong, a 34-year-old Chinese, may be undefeated, but Friday’s brawl will be the biggest challenge of his career.
“It will be a difficult fight for Meng Fanlong, because Jean Pascal has courage. He has speed. Power. »
These words are those of Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexican boxing legend and one of the partners of the ProBox TV adventure. He is accompanied in this project by other big names in the noble sport, namely Roy Jones Jr., Paul Malignaggi and Antonio Tarver.
The latter went further on the words of his collaborator, in front of the stage where the boxers came in turn to make sure to make the weight, Thursday.
“Pascal is undefeated against left-handers, analyzes Tarver. That says a lot. It means he has the experience to beat a guy from that angle. »
“Meng will have to find a solution,” he continues. But its size and scope will be to its advantage. »
Same story for Marquez.
“Pascal has to fight at close range. He needs to get closer to Meng Fanlong. He must work with his speed and his experience. »
This is the key for the Laval pugilist. Because the 34-year-old Chinese may be undefeated, Friday’s fight will be the most imposing challenge of his career.
“Meng Fanlong has never faced a boxer of the caliber of Jean Pascal,” argues former boxer Sébastien Gauthier, hired as a French-speaking analyst to describe Friday evening on ProBox TV.
“Even in the amateur ranks, he was not an exceptional boxer. […] I think Jean Pascal has a good chance of winning and relaunching his career. And Meng, for his part, brings China with him. Sport is at a standstill there, boxing too. For him it’s really personal. He wants people to be able to cheer him on, and have hope. »
“Both are hungry,” he concludes. It will be exceptional. »