Main Events, InterBox and Jean Pascal Promotions are proud to announce Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) will face Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) in the ten-round co-feature of the Kovalev-Mohammedi Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship fight on July 25 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Pascal, the former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion, looks to prove he is still a force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division by taking on a young undefeated prospect in Gonzalez. This will be his first fight outside his adopted home country of Canada since 2008 and his third fight in seven months. The 32-year old is originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and currently resides in Laval, Quebec, Canada.
"I'm eager to get back in the ring," said Pascal. "The years where I have been very active are the ones that I've performed the best. Gonzalez is a good fighter and everybody knows I am not content with fighting just a regular fighter. I'm already back in the gym and focusing on July 25."
Pascal will face a big challenge from his opponent, undefeated Cuban prospect Yunieski Gonzalez. Yunieski has a stellar 75% knockout-to-win ratio and has stopped his last seven opponents in a row dating all the way back to 2012. His previous three fights have not lasted past the third round and two of those were first-round stoppages. The 29-year old is originally from Cuba and now makes his home in Miami, Florida.
"This is the fight I have been waiting for," said a confident Gonzalez. "I'm not punching at him, I'm punching through him and when I'm done with him he won't be any good for anyone else."
Main Events' CEO, Kathy Duva, is excited to work with Pascal and InterBox again. She said, "Kovalev and Pascal are both true warriors in the sense that they are always willing to face the very best. So putting them on the same card made a lot of sense for us and for the fans who will get to see both of them bring their electricity to the same ring again. With Pascal there is never a dull moment in the ring and, as proof that he never backs away from a challenge, this time he steps up to face a talented, hungry undefeated contender who has the ability to knock out anyone he faces."
"For his third fight in less than a year for Jean Pascal, this is a great opportunity and challenge for him," said Jean BĂ©dard, President of InterBox. "Gonzalez had a phenomenal amateur career and his professional career seems to follow the same direction. It's always a pleasure to work with Kathy Duva and Main Events."
Greg Leon, CEO of Jean Pascal Promotions, added, "Jean Pascal Promotions is thrilled to be back on HBO for the second time in four months. Yunieski Gonzalez is a talented fighter and a formidable challenge but I have no doubt Jean Pascal will be far too much for him."
Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, Gonzalez's promoter, said "I am thrilled to be on to such a sensational HBO card filled with light heavyweight bangers. We are very high on Yunieski Gonzalez and this is the kind of fight that he needs to propel him to the top of the light heavyweight division."
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable tax and service fees, are on sale now and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Undercard information will be announced shortly.