Jean Pascal retains the WBA title via split-decision over Badou Jack!
After twelve intense rounds of fighting, WBA world light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KO’s) made a successful first defense of his title. When the verdict was read, the Atlanta, Georgia audience loudly booed the decision believing that Badou Jack “The Ripper” (22-3-3, 13 KO’s) had actually prevailed.
Even though the decision was very displeasing, both men conducted themselves with great sportsmanship in the aftermath.
TALE TO TWO HALFS
Despite both fighters largely remaining true to their original game plans, this was very much a fight of two halves. From the very onset the defending champion utilized his typical wild and explosive style of fighting. Across from him, Jack succumbed to this notorious slow and methodical method of fisticuffs.
The action was extreme from the very beginning. This was largely due to Pascal putting so much in every shot. The tough Canadian threw all his punches like a grown man trying to settle the score with his deadbeat dad.
Meanwhile Jack cautiously plodded forward behind a sharp jab and educated straight right hand.
The bout was very tit-for-tat until Pascal managed to drop the Ripper in the final seconds of the fourth round. It was a luckily thing for Jack that the blow landed when it did, because he was badly hurt. Jack would enjoy a solid bounce back round in the fifth.
SPLIT DECISION BLUES
The second half of the bout would see Jack take a firm control of the match as Pascal’s energy began to wane. The Ripper would notably hurt Pascal in the ninth and eleventh rounds. Jack almost stops Pascal in the twelfth period.
After seriously hurting the champ with a right, and landing several follow ups, Pascal briefly goes down. Despite jumping on him with a gusto, Jack could not finish him. He will certainly have nightmares about that fact!
When the power was given to the judges, two of the three awarded the victory to Jean Pascal. Both talked about doing it all over again while the former interim champion Marcus Browne (who previously lost to Pascal and defeated Jack) entered the ring hoping to get the champion in a rematch!
By: Bakari Simpson
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