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Back in December of 2019, veteran light heavyweights Jean Pascal and Badou Jack went to war over 12 rounds, a terrific battle from Atlanta where both men were down, and Pascal narrowly escaped with a split decision win despite being dropped and hurt in the 12th round.
Pascal (35-6-1, 20 KO) and Jack (23-3-3, 13 KO) will do it again on Sunday, June 6, when the two meet in a featured fight on the Floyd Mayweather-Logan Paul pay-per-view.
According to Jack, both men have been waiting with a done deal every since the first fight was over.
“Floyd called me in January last year and told me the rematch was on for April,” he said at a media workout. “That was last year. It’s been done since we walked out of the ring the first time, but I’m happy it’s finally done. I’m happy it’s here and I’m ready to put on a show.”
And for those who may still be confused about the structure of the show, Badou wants to make it very clear: This fight is not “entertainment,” it’s a real fight.
“My fight is going to be a hell of a fight. Everybody knows that. It was a Fight of the Year contender last time,” Jack said. “Floyd vs Logan is going to be entertainment. That’s a different kind of fight, but Floyd is going to put on a show. All of the eyeballs are going to be on that night so it’s going to be a great night.”
Jack, 37, made a tune-up return last November on a similar event, beating a dreadfully over-matched (if very game) Blake McKernan in an eight-round cruiserweight bout. That was his first fight with trainer Johnathon Banks, and everything worked well enough that they’ll be back together again for this one.
As for Pascal, 38, Jack knows exactly the type of opponent he has, and it’s more than just the fact they’ve fought one another already.
“Pascal likes trying to get under my skin, but I’m too calm. I’m too confident for that. At the end of the day, he’s a veteran, I’m a veteran and it’s going to be a great fight night,” he said.
“I thought I won the first fight. 75 percent of everybody that watched the fight thought I won. There was only one judge that had experience, Julie Lederman, and she had me winning. The other two might have scored his so-called punches but it is what it is.”