Jean Pascal has successful surgery, looks at June return

WBC light heavyweight titlist Jean Pascal underwent successful surgery to fix the right shoulder he re-injured in this month's rematch with Adrian Diaconu, and he is looking at a June 2010 return. Promoter Yvon Michel sent out this release:

"According to his corner men the shoulder got off and replaced into the articulation 3 times during the fight, in the 3rd, 5th and 10th round. ... To repair the shoulder Pascal had surgery this morning in a hospital in Laval. The doctor was Dr. David Baillargeon. It was an arthroscopic surgery. Everything went very well with no complications. His shoulder will be immobilised for 3 weeks, then he will need 5 to 6 weeks of rehabilitation before resuming boxing training in full fledge!

"The doctors are saying he could be back for a fight in May. Our target date is next June 2010."

Doctors saying May and the fighter and promoter targeting June is good to hear -- nothing will be lost in that extra month of making sure the injury is healed properly. Pascal first had a problem with the shoulder way back when he fought Omar Pittman (the night Edison Miranda iced David Banks on ESPN2), and it was clear this time that shoulder surgery was going to be a necessity. No more rehabbing and fighting through it. For one thing, Pascal has now established himself as a top light heavyweight and a consistently exciting fighter, and he's become a major drawing card in Quebec, too. The audience and his belt will be there when he's ready to return.

Good luck to Jean Pascal on his recovery, and we look forward to seeing his return to the ring.