Former champ Pascal motivated for Bivol bout

Dmitry Bivol and former world champion Jean Pascal will tangle for Bivol’s WBA world light heavyweight title on Saturday, November 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Russia’s Bivol, (14-0, 11 KO’s) at age 27 is 9 years younger than Pascal. This fight will certainly be a case of an emerging star being tested against an experienced veteran in former world champ Pascal who comes into the bout at 33-5-1, with 20 stoppage wins.

While Bivol is undefeated, and the favorite going into the bout, he will be facing a very experienced veteran in Pascal who has squared off against the likes of Lucien Bute, Bernard Hopkins, Sergey Kovalev, Chad Dawson and Carl Froch to name a few, in his impressive, 13-year career. 

Bivol turned pro in November of 2014 and was competing for a world title in his 7th bout. After 2 defences as in interim world champion, he claimed full WBA champion status in November of last year and is looking to make Pascal his 3rd successful title defence.

Pascal had planned to go into a retirement bout with Canadian veteran Gary Kopas when the title opportunity came up for him. Pascal knows that if he can pull off the upset win, or even put in an impressive performance regardless of the outcome, he may set himself up for some more big fights before he is done.

In either case, Pascal will need to be focused and on point as he is facing a champion who is looking to dominate the 175-pound division and will want to impress against Pascal to make a case for some unification fights in the near future.

In pre-fight pressers, Pascal did not sound like a fighter who was looking to pad his retirement account. In fact, he seemed to have a steely determination, focused on pulling off the upset win and bringing the title back to Canada.

"This is the most important fight of my life and I could not be more motivated,” said Pascal. “I’m making boxing history on November 24th. I’m known as a champion who never turned down any challenges, but I want to be two-time champion and I want to be immortalized in the Hall of Fame when my career is over”, he said. “To fully cement my status as a hall of famer, I must win this fight and I will win this fight. Bivol is a very good fighter and a difficult challenge, but greatness has never been achieved without overcoming difficult challenges. My Canadian fans should be very excited because all of the light heavyweight belts will be in our house for Christmas this year," promised Pascal.