SONAHR: January 19, 2014 – A pair of slightly tarnished local idols clashed in the ring at the Bell Center in Montreal on Saturday. Jean Pascal once wore the WBC light-heavyweight crown before losing it by decision to the ageless Bernard Hopkins in a rematch of a previous bout that had ended in a controversial draw. Bute was the IBF super-middleweight titlist until he got cold-cocked by Carl Froch. Pascal had also lost to Froch by decision in a super-middleweight title bout that took place before the Super Six tournament.
Both Pascal and Bute are immigrants who made a new home in Laval, Quebec ? Pascal hailing from Haiti, Bute from Romania. Quebec fight fans have embraced both men, and they packed the arena in anticipation of a scintillating spectacle featuring a pair of nonstop punchers.
What the spectators witnessed was a fight that was mostly one-sided in favor of Pascal until the last round, when Bute finally opened fire and nearly pulled out a stirring come-from-behind triumph. The rally wasn?t enough, though, and Pascal won a clear-cut unanimous decision.
The bout demonstrated that Bute is simply not the same fighter he was before colliding with Froch. Going into the Froch fight, Bute was an undefeated power-puncher who also knew how to box. Since his devastating defeat at Froch?s hands, Bute has been tentative. He only looked like the old Lucien in the 12th round of the Pascal fight, but the flashback was too late.
Pascal, on the other hand, is still the same fighter he was before his two encounters with Hopkins. The transplanted Haitian is an unorthodox, highly aggressive swarmer who wins through the volume rather than the power in his punches. Bute was unable to cope with Pascal?s style until the end, when Pascal showed fatigue and vulnerability.
Bute did not disgrace himself in the Pascal match. But he didn?t distinguish himself, either. Normally a super-middleweight, he fought his local rival at light-heavy. Bute can still make himself some decent paydays at either 168 or 175 pounds. But he would not be the betting favorite in bouts against the champions of those divisions.
As for Pascal, he has re-established his credentials as a solid contender among the light-heavies. Unfortunately for him, the division is top-heavy these days, with his nemesis Hopkins continuing to defy age and the heavy-handed Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev are carving out championship territory of their own.
Pascal would be a decided underdog against any of those three. However, a showdown with Stevenson ? another Haitian immigrant who has established an enthusiastic fan base in Quebec ? would again pack the Bell Center and generate the biggest box-office and pay-per-view receipts in Canadian history.
Look for this dream duel to occur sometime before the end of this year. And look for fight-of-the-year quality fireworks, however long the bout lasts.
