Jean Pascal vs Silvio Branco

Froch is big and he only just lost against Froch and Pascl fought the wrong fight.

I thought Pascal was promoted by Gym and Interbox only have right on this fight v Branco and a rematch with Diaconu.

 

I agree with all of this. Branco and a Diaconu rematch shouldn't be much of a problem, but there are a lot of guys out there, including lesser fighters, who could give Pascal major problems.

 

:good

 

Canada's Pascal looks to cook up victory in WBC title defence against Branco

Bill Beacon, THE CANADIAN PRESS Sep 21, 5:11 pm EDT

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MONTREAL - One only hopes that Jean Pascal was kidding about what he plans to cook up in the ring when he defends his World Boxing Council light heavyweight title against Italian veteran Silvio Branco.
"I'll win the fight and if you're hungry, that's good because I'm going to cook some Italian pasta with a lot of blood sauce," Pascal (23-1, 15 knockouts) said Monday, with only a trace of a smile.
The 27-year-old from Laval, Que., is to face 43-year-old Branco (59-9-2, 36 KOs) on Friday night at the Bell Centre in a mandatory defence of the title he won June 19 in a 12-round unanimous decision over Adrian Diaconu of Montreal.
If he wins, Pascal will face Diaconu in a rematch on Dec. 11.


There is always plenty of flash and bluster with Pascal, but it carries more weight now that he has a title to back it up.
He will need to put his exceptional speed and athleticism to work to hold off the lanky Branco, a pro since 1988 who is much-travelled and won't be put off fighting in his opponent's hometown.
Branco won the WBA title in 2003 and lost it the next year by majority decision to Frenchman Fabrice Tiozzo in France. He won the WBA belt again in 2006 and promptly lost it to American Drew Snipes in Germany. He has since battled his way back to become the No. 1-ranked contender in the WBC, which made him the mandatory challenger for Pascal's title.
Promoter Yvon Michel said people who look at the 16-year age gap and assume it will be an easy night for Pascal are off-base.
"Branco doesn't fight like he's 43," said Michel. "He's very good.
"Speed is usually the first thing to leave a fighter, but he's still very fast. He's a road warrior as well. Most of his world championship bouts were outside Italy. He uses his reach well. He holds inside. He does everything to make you look bad and to try to steal it from you. A guy like him would never be the choice for an optional defence."
Pascal's trainer Marc Ramsay said care was taken in his fighter's psychological preparation to avoid "traps."
"They are his age and the Vegas odds, which are around 11-to-1. But we know exactly who Mr. Branco is and we know we will beat him."
Branco said Diaconu ducked out of fighting him and thanked Pascal for agreeing to face him. He also appealed to local Italians to support him, saying he shares roots with many of them from Calabria in the south of Italy.
"I'm sorry Mr. Branco, but they're Canadians now and they'll be supporting me," Pascal shot back.
"He's got good skills," Pascal added. "He's a tall boxer, but the thing is I'm younger, faster and smarter, so I've got every tool on my side to kick his butt. I'm going for the early knockout, so don't be late."
His opponent's brother, 39-year-old Gianluca Branco, scoffed at that remark.
"After the fight, Pascal should become an actor," said the younger Branco (43-2-1), the European light welterweight champ.
Diaconu was twice scheduled to fight Branco, but promotions in Romania and Italy fell through. The WBC then agreed to let Diaconu fight an optional defence against Pascal, with disastrous results for the Romania native.
Pascal was coming off his first loss, a hard-fought decision against tough Briton Carl Froch in England for the WBC super-middleweight title.
"That was not a wake-up call, it was a sign that I was almost there," said Pascal. "I just had to stay focused, work a little harder, have a little more discipline and I'd be there.
"That's what I did against Diaconu. But Froch was my first fight with real adversity, so it brought me a lot of experience. It was good for me."
Pascal, a 2004 Canadian Olympian, has just returned from a training camp at a country retreat and also spent time working with the national team.
Should be beat Branco and Diaconu, Pascal hopes to fight a unification bout with newly crowned IBF champ Tavoris Cloud, but the WBC has other plans. Former WBC and IBF champ Chad Dawson is to face Glen Johnson on Nov. 7 in Hartford for an interim WBC title, with the winner taking on Pascal.
Michel said that would be "much more lucrative and dangerous than a unification fight."
The Ring magazine has Bernard Hopkins as the world's top light heavyweight, followed by Dawson and Johnson. It has Pascal eighth and Diaconu ninth while Branco is not in its top 10.
Gianluca Branco once lost a WBC light welterweight title bout to Arturo Gatti of Montreal, who was found hanged in an apartment at a Brazilian resort this summer. Brazilian officials called it suicide, which is disputed by Gatti's family and friends. Branco said he hoped to visit Gatti's grave while in town.
The co-feature has Adonis Stevenson (12-0) of Montreal in his first fight since Aug. 1, 2008. Stevenson was sidelined with injuries suffered in a car accident. He will fight for the WBC International title against Jermain (Choo Choo) Mackey (18-3) of the Bahamas.

 

Bronco is not going to be quick enough or strong enough he has slowed down last couple of years and his opposition was vary vary limited.

 

Pascal will put a good show this is for sure, now let's see how he will do it!

:bbb

 

The weigh in is early this afternoon. The odds are 10-1 in favor of Pascal. That's too much in my opnion but I choose Pascal to win anyway, probably by decision.

 

Size difference isn't too much. Pascal 5,11 and Branco a touch over 6ft. Not sure about reach...

Pascal UD

 

No, if Pascal wins, it's gonna be against Diaconu December 11 at the Bell Center.

 

Weigh in:
Pascal 175
Branco 174,2

I'll try to post a video of the weigh in when it's available.

 

What channel is this on in Canada?

 

It will be ppv.

 

... and FREE for non canadian viewers: http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=509

 

some tension at the weight-in !! looking good for the fights!

is there any of Branco fans in here or Italians??

 

Arghh! Your post just hurt me, a Canadian viewer. :silly