Chad Dawson, left, and Jean Pascal face off at Wednesday's press conference. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press) Jean Pascal can accomplish something special if he beats (Bad) Chad Dawson.
The Montreal fighter is considered the underdog by the bookmakers going into their 12-round title bout on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, even though Pascal holds the World Boxing Council light heavyweight title and Dawson is the challenger.
That's because Dawson (29-0, 17 knockouts) is not your average opponent.
The New Haven, Conn., native is considered one of best boxers in all weight classes in the world. The Ring magazine ranks the southpaw sixth on it's list of the top-10 fighters, pound for pound, on the planet, and puts him first, just ahead of Pascal, among light heavyweights.
"That's a guy I respect a lot," said Pascal (25-1, 16 KOs). "I'm stepping up in the level of my opponent, but it's time for me to step up and I'm ready.
"When I beat Chad Dawson, I'm going to enter that list."
It is being called one the best fights ever held in Canada -- a match of the world's top two light heavyweights, both in the prime of their careers. Dawson is 28, while Pascal is 27.
The HBO specialty channel, which televises Dawson's bouts, will be broadcasting the battle for what is called the linear championship — which dates back to before the alphabet of sanctioning bodies cluttered the boxing scene to when there was only one champ in each weight class.
When big Canadian bouts are mentioned, it starts with the two victories by Muhammed Ali over George Chuvalo — the first in 1966 in Toronto and the second in 1972 in Vancouver.
There was also the Brawl in Montreal in 1980 between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, or a pair of light heavyweight fights in late 1950s between Yvon Durrell of Baie Ste-Anne, N.B., and ring legend Archie Moore, who won both.
Russ Anber, the trainer and broadcaster who will work in Pascal's corner as his cutman, said the bout has a chance to make Canadian fight history.
"It's a historic moment for sure. And if Jean wins, it will be the greatest win by a Canadian on Canadian soil. I can't think of anybody else."
Dawson's ambition is to clear out both Montreal reigning world champions — Pascal and IBF super-middleweight champ Lucian Bute.
His promoter Gary Shaw said the fight can be arranged because Bute could move up to a compromise weigh of 172 pounds and face Dawson without putting his 168-pound title on the line.
"My feeling is I can make Chad a hometown favourite in Montreal," said Shaw. "Canada is a great fight country.
They really come out and support their fighters, moreso than in the U.S. So we knock off Pascal and then we come back and knock off Bute. I owe Canada a favour. When the U.S. played hockey, we blew it and you went home with the gold (at the Vancouver Olympics). On Saturday night, Chad will go home with the first part of the gold. Then we strip you of your darling (Bute) and Chad becomes the next Canadian darling."
It may not be so simple.
Pascal was coming off his only defeat -- a close decision in Carl Froch's hometown of Nottingham, England -- when he moved up one class and won the light heavyweight belt with a 12 round decision over fellow Montreal resident Adrian Diaconu. He has defended it twice, against Silvio Branco and in a rematch with Diaconu.
In the second Diaconu bout, Pascal fought most of the second half after dislocating his right shoulder and having it popped back into place in the corner by Anber.
Pascal said the injury is forgotten and he feels in top shape after a long camp with his extensive training team.
The six-foot-one Dawson has a two-inch height advantage, and has had more exposure to high-profile fights, but it remains to be seen how he'll do against a fighter with Pascal's speed and skill.
Dawson's last four fights — two wins by decision each against Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson — were against opponents
"I don't worry about that," said Dawson. "Tarver is a classic guy who has been around.
"Those are not guys you knock out. Those guys go 12 hard rounds. They say they're going to expose my weaknesses. My weakness was being knocked down and getting up and winning a fight [against Tomasz Adamek]. Is that a weakness? They can't put me down — I guarantee that. If anyone's going to go down it will be Pascal. Trust me."
Dawson has been criticized for being overly cautious, of not going for the knockout when he has the lead late in fights, but Pascal's aggressive style should balance that out.
"He said Jean Pascal has never fought anyone as good as Chad and he's 100 per cent right about that, but I'll tell you this — Chad Dawson's never fought someone like Jean Pascal either," said Anber.
"When you've got the two best guys in the world facing off against each other, how could it not be a great fight?
