Jean Pascal vs Zsolt Erdei Needs TV Date, But Promoters Want the Fight

A fight between former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and arguable true lineal champion Zsolt Erdei has interested from promoters Yvon Michel and Lou DiBella, but trouble finding a TV date with HBO or Showtime has kept negotiations from progressing.

Rick Reeno reports from DiBella that there have been discussions, but with Michel not having an open TV date for Pascal with either of the major American networks, the fight may not happen this year. Pascal was a strong rumor to co-feature on the Hopkins vs Dawson HBO pay-per-view on October 15, but that fight is now not headed for Quebec, but instead for New Jersey, where Pascal wouldn't help the live gate nearly as much.

As for Tavoris Cloud, it has been said for a while now that Pascal vs Cloud isn't likely this year, but that GYM was looking at Erdei and also Beibut Shumenov as potential opponents for Pascal, who would like to get back into the title hunt at 175 pounds after being dethroned by 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins on May 21. He's still one of the best fighters in the division, and also still one of the few who can reliably draw a crowd fighting at home, so he'll have options, and honestly I like the Erdei fight a lot, and would give Zsolt a serious shot at the "upset."