Jean Pascal to face Yunieski Gonzalez on Kovalev undercard

Jean Pascal, the former light heavyweight champion who gave Sergey Kovalev a solid challenge in March, will return on Kovalev's undercard on July 25 in Las Vegas, taking an interesting fight against unbeaten Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez.

Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KO) has been in the ring with not just Kovalev, but Bernard Hopkins (twice), Carl Froch, and Lucian Bute. He's a battle-tested, high-level fighter. Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KO) has faced no one of note since turning pro in December 2010, and will be taking a huge step up in competition.

But his promoter Joe DeGuardia isn't worried:

"We have high expectations for him and believe he has tremendous potential. Perhaps as important, he's an exciting fighter."

And Gonzalez, 29, is certainly doing his part in talking it up:

"This is the fight I have been waiting for. 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."

Here's footage of Gonzalez's most recent fight, a TKO-3 win over Brad Austin in March: