Jean Pascal – Former World Champion
On working with Freddie Roach
“I like Freddie. Freddie is a good man. He is a great boxing coach. One thing that I like about Freddie is he is a coach who like to listen. He is gonna ask me question. He is going to try to see my point of view. He gonna explain to me his point of view.
He has a good ear. He has great experience and that is the quality of a good coach. I am my own boss. I need a partner. Freddie is the right partner right now. I am a veteran. I went to the Olympics. I became world champion. I am about to become two-time world champion in a few weeks. I need more like a partner to evolve than a boss.”
|
|
|
Jean Pascal
Photo Credits: Craig Bennett/Main Events
|
On Kovalev-Pascal I
“A few things went wrong but they were very like minor details. Right now we have corrected those mistakes so I can be victorious on Jan. 30. My mental [attitude] is very strong. I am physically strong. I am very confident. I am well-prepared physically and mentally. Freddie has the eye of the tiger. He see things. That is the goal right now to correct my small mistakes that I did on the first fight. That is why I think this time around I am going to be victorious.”
|
|
|
Jean Pascal Stretches Before His Workout
Photo Credits: Craig Bennett/Main Events
|
Jean Pascal’s Trainer – Freddie roach
On the game plan for this fight:
“The same strategy won’t work. Both guys have smartened up. Maybe the fight was stopped too soon but referees are there for a reason, to protect the fighter and so forth. We’re not going to blame the referee at all. In world title fights I think there is a little more judgment or a little more give because it is a world title fight but I don’t see how that could even get close to happening in this fight because his boxing ability is really, really good. That is what I intend for him to do.”
|
|
|
Freddie Roach Takes Questions from the Media
Photo Credits: Craig Bennett/Main Events
|
On Kovalev-Pascal I and the stoppage:
“I thought he fought a poor fight. I thought he was looking for a knockout too much and he can’t do that. You go out there and box. Use your boxing ability. Beat this guy every round at a time. If a knockout comes that’s a bonus. He totally understands that. I told him if you go out there and start swinging for the fences and get real wild like you can do at times when you get back to the corner I won’t be there. I’m going to go home. I said, ‘Don’t embarrass me like that.” You are a professional fighter. You know how to box. Go out there and outbox this guy.’ That’s the biggest game plan for me.”
Mikhaylenko vs. Robinson added to Kovalev-Pascal card
Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Undefeated welterweight prospect Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko (20-0, 9 KOs) will look to make his mark in the wide-open welterweight division against southpaw Ray “The New Ray Robinson” Robinson (20-2, 9 KOs) in the opening 10-round bout of the Kovalev-Pascal II HBO World Championship Boxing event Saturday, Jan. 30 live from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The telecast begins at 9:45 pm ET/PT live on HBO®.
Mikhaylenko, 29, from Gelendzhik, Russia, is co-promoted by Main Events and German Titov Promotions. “The Mechanic” is undefeated and stopped his last three opponents, including former interim super lightweight titleholder Johan Perez. This will be his second fight in Canada; he stopped Felipe De la Paz in the fifth round on the undercard of Kovalev-Pascal I.
Dmitry said, “I am excited to be on HBO and back in Canada. This is a big fight for me; I am looking to get my name in the hunt at the top of the welterweight division. I am also excited to be opening for my countryman, Sergey Kovalev. I hope to put on a great show.”
Robinson, also 29, is a tough southpaw from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who has not lost a fight in over five years. He has won his last nine fights in a row, five of them by way of knockout. In his last fight he defended his NABO Welterweight Title with a ten-round unanimous decision victory over Sherzodbek Alimjanov back in April of this year.
“Success comes with a price,” said Robinson. “I paid my dues. Jan. 30 will be another step closer to my dreams.”
According to Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, “These are the kinds of fights that fans want to see. In the stacked welterweight division these are two ranked fighters, both in the prime of their careers, looking to make their mark. Dmitry continues to impress us as he has quietly worked his way through the ranks of the division. He is willing to stand and trade punches with anyone and has proven on numerous occasions that with his high punch output he ready for anything.”
German Titov, Mikhaylenko’s co-promoter added, “We have put on a lot of great shows with Main Events. I am excited to collaborate on another top-tier event. Mikhaylenko is hungry to make a name for himself in one of the most competitive divisions in boxing and a win over a ranked fighter like Robinson will go a long way towards achieving that goal.”
About January 30
The grudge match for the unified light heavyweight world championship between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal, a Vidéotron presentation in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, will be televised live in the United States on HBO beginning 9:45pm ET/PT as well as on pay-per-view TV in Canada. The card is promoted by Main Events and Interbox in association with German Titov Promotions. Tickets are on sale on at www.evenko.ca, at the Bell Centre box office and at Club de boxe Champions in Montreal.
