Jean Pascal Shreds Lucian Bute, Targets Hopkins Clash
By Lem Satterfield
WBC/IBO light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (25-1, 16 KOs) is not going to chase a fight with fellow Canadian, IBF super middleweight king Lucian Bute (26-0, 21 knockouts). After winning a decision over the man most experts considered as the 175-pounder in the world, Chad Dawson, the new unified champion is looking for the best and biggest fights possible.
The biggest financial opportunity would be a hometown showdown with Bute. The fight won't happen any time soon. Bute's promoter, InterBox, advised Pascal's handlers that their fighter has no interest in moving up to light heavyweight. They said Bute will continue to make fights at 168-pounds. Pascal would like to fight him now, but says it's not a mandatory need. The way he sees it, Bute is the one who really needs their fight.
"I would like to fight Lucian Bute. But I don't need to chase Lucian Bute, because I'm the boss in town. I'm the king of my division right now. I beat one of the best fighters, pound-for-pound, in the world. And, you know, that was kind of funny. Because Bute has said to the Montreal media that I was chasing him," Pascal said.
"Bute needs me because, right now, he's stuck with nobody. Even HBO doesn't want his fight. Not even Showtime. If he wants to fight on ESPN, he can take those easy fights like Jesse Brinkley and Jean Paul Mendy. But me, I know that without Bute, I can still make millions of dollars. So Bute, don't get me wrong, I don't need you. I don't chase you."
The likely opponent for Pascal, if the negotiations continue to play out, is veteran Bernard Hopkins. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has already spoken with Pascal's promoter, GYM, about Hopkins' willingness to take a fight with Pascal in Montreal.
"I would love to fight Bernard Hopkins. He has a lot of experience, he's a legend, and he has a big name, and he has good skills. That would be another great challenge for me. I just want to prove to myself that I deserve to be in the ring with a guy like that, and that I belong with the elite fighters in the world. Not only in my division, but among the best fighters, pound-for-pound," Pascal said.