Tavoris Cloud vs Jean Pascal: Opening Stages of Discussion Begin

The promoter of ex-light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal isn't wasting time trying to line up a significant fight for his charge, as Yvon Michel has started discussions to match Pascal with Tavoris Cloud on HBO.

Cloud (22-0, 18 KO) holds the IBF belt at 175, and is himself constantly looking for a bigger fight. The Don King fighter already has a date set, as he faces mandatory challenger Yusaf Mack on June 25, part of an HBO triple-header. But Cloud, 29, is a pretty heavy favorite in that one, and if he wins as expected, could reasonably face Pascal by this fall.

Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KO) of course lost to Bernard Hopkins on May 21 in Montreal. The best case scenario is that a Cloud vs Pascal fight could be put in Montreal as a terrific co-feature for the likely Hopkins vs Chad Dawson clash, which is a fight that would be best off in Montreal, but better off still with a local draw like Pascal also on the card.

Golden Boy and Gary Shaw are having no issues getting Hopkins vs Dawson in order thus far, but both sides might be rightfully reluctant to set a venue in the States given that Hopkins and Dawson are very good live draws. But it's never easy to get four different promoters together for one TV bill -- not that I think it would be particularly difficult in this case, but there would be a lot to get straightened out between GYM, Golden Boy, Gary Shaw, and King.

But you really can't beat that card for a light heavyweight double-feature. It would feature the four best in the world at light heavyweight, with potential fights between the winners of the bouts seemingly very viable.