Pascal returns to stop opponent
Laval fighter scores TKO
TROIS-RIVIÈRES The time might yet come again where Jean Pascal is an internationally acclaimed boxer, a guy who fights for a world title. But you have to take baby steps first in an effort to regain confidence.
“I can’t always fight legends or killers,” the Laval light-heavyweight said Friday night, after scoring a technical knockout at 1:45 of the third round against Argentina’s Ricardo Marcelo Ramallo before a capacity crowd of 400 at the Amphithéatre Cogeco.
Pascal, the former World Boxing Council 175-pound champion, was in the ring for the first time since last January, when he failed to answer the bell for the eighth round against Sergey Kovalev in their rematch at the Bell Centre. Kovalev stopped Pascal in the eighth round the first time they met, in March 2015.
Pascal had legendary American trainer Freddie Roach in his corner 11 months ago, but was working for the first time with Quebec’s Stephan Larouche for this fight. The two, however, have a history dating back to Pascal’s amateur days.
“He was a little nervous and didn’t have much to win,” Larouche said. “If he didn’t knock him out, people would have counted him out and considered him finished. He had to be sharp and relaxed, with good defence.
“I wanted Jean to be calm and relaxed in the first round and keep his hands up. He hasn’t fought for months,” Larouche added. “He used and landed his jab.” Pascal, who had lost two of his last three bouts — both to Kovalev — improved to 31-4-1, producing the 18th knockout of his career. Ramallo has now lost three of his last four bouts to fall to 21-11-1.
Pascal was originally scheduled to meet Croatia’s Stjepan Bozic (29-11, 19 KOs), but his medical tests were judged to be incomplete by the Régie des Alcools, des Courses et des Jeux, which oversees boxing in the province.
The change in opponents was made only four days ago, but it certainly didn’t affect Pascal.
Ramallo, a tough and experienced boxer, has fought in Canada before. In April 2015, he lost a unanimous decision to Montreal’s Schiller Hyppolite in Sorel. But one month earlier, he stopped Steve Franjic in the opening round of their bout in Mississauga.
Pascal actually might have lost the opening round. He tried working the body and, while he threw the jab repeatedly, it often was from too far a distance. Ramallo appeared to land the majority of punches.
“My plan was to exploit my jab from the first round. Everyone tells me I have one of the best jabs in the business,” said Pascal, 34.
Pascal raised his intensity level in the second round, clearly becoming the aggressor.
Early in the third round, Pascal landed a left to the body followed by a crunching right and Ramallo hit the deck for the second time. He arose, but only briefly, before going down a second time in the round.
Referee Alain Villeneuve promptly, and wisely, signalled the end of the night for Ramallo.