MONTREAL (AP)—Jean Pascal will challenge Adrian Diaconu for the WBC light heavyweight title on June 19 at the Bell Centre.
Diaconu (26-0) won the interim WBC title with a 12-round decision over Chris Henry in April 2008 and later was given the full title when it was vacated by Chad Dawson.
Two scheduled defenses against Silvio Branco were canceled, and Diaconu’s only fight in the past year was an eight-round decision in a tune up bout over David Whittom.
The Pascal fight will be the first time he has put the title on the line, and happened only after rival promoters InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel agreed to work together
Pascal (22-1) lost a bid for the WBC super middleweight title in December to Carl Froch in England, but came back with a fifth-round knockout of Pablo Nievas in April.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Soto makes quick comeback in second title defense
by Jim Slater
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Six weeks after making his first title defense, Mexico's Humberto Soto climbs back into the ring on Saturday to risk his super featherweight crown again against Canada's Benoit Gaudet.
Soto's World Boxing Council (WBC) championship bout tops the undercard of the blockbuster world junior welterweight championship bout between Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao and British star Ricky Hatton.
"It's a big card and I'm happy to be on it," Soto said. "This is a big fight for me. I know I have to do well. I'm well prepared to go 12 rounds."
Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, faces Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts, after stopping Antonio Davis in the fourth round in March at Tijuana.
"I know Gaudet very well," Soto said. "I know his style is to box but I hope he decides to fight with me so we give the fans something exciting to talk about."
There was only a light nod to the swine flu outbreak that has caused deaths and sparked worldwide concern but produced only one confirmed case in Nevada, that in Reno and well away from the entertainment mecca.
"Mexicans be sure to wear their masks," promoter Bob Arum said.
Soto, 28, won the vacant title last December when he took a 12-round unanimous decision over Francisco Lorenzo.
Gaudet, 29, has won 11 fights in a row and was brought in to face Soto after another planned title bout for the card was scrapped.
"I know I'm the underdog but I'm here to reach another big point in my career," Gaudet said.
The 2004 Olympian, who makes his US debut, trains in the same Montreal gym as light heavyweight world champion Adrian Diaconu and super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute.
"I'm a technical boxer. I will use my speed a lot more than my power. My power comes from my speed. I throw a lot of punches. I move a lot. I have good defense. I prepare my attacks. I'm a very smart boxer."
England's Matthew Hatton, Ricky's younger brother who is 35-4 with one drawn record and 13 knockouts, has an eight-round welterweight undercard bout against Mexico's Ernesto Zepeda, 39-11 wioth four drawn and 34 knockouts.
Also on the card is Filipino lightweight Bernabe Concepcion, 28-1 with one draw and 17 knockouts, who will face Colombian Yogli Herrera, 21-8 with 15 knockouts.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Six weeks after making his first title defense, Mexico's Humberto Soto climbs back into the ring on Saturday to risk his super featherweight crown again against Canada's Benoit Gaudet.
Soto's World Boxing Council (WBC) championship bout tops the undercard of the blockbuster world junior welterweight championship bout between Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao and British star Ricky Hatton.
"It's a big card and I'm happy to be on it," Soto said. "This is a big fight for me. I know I have to do well. I'm well prepared to go 12 rounds."
Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, faces Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts, after stopping Antonio Davis in the fourth round in March at Tijuana.
"I know Gaudet very well," Soto said. "I know his style is to box but I hope he decides to fight with me so we give the fans something exciting to talk about."
There was only a light nod to the swine flu outbreak that has caused deaths and sparked worldwide concern but produced only one confirmed case in Nevada, that in Reno and well away from the entertainment mecca.
"Mexicans be sure to wear their masks," promoter Bob Arum said.
Soto, 28, won the vacant title last December when he took a 12-round unanimous decision over Francisco Lorenzo.
Gaudet, 29, has won 11 fights in a row and was brought in to face Soto after another planned title bout for the card was scrapped.
"I know I'm the underdog but I'm here to reach another big point in my career," Gaudet said.
The 2004 Olympian, who makes his US debut, trains in the same Montreal gym as light heavyweight world champion Adrian Diaconu and super middleweight world champion Lucian Bute.
"I'm a technical boxer. I will use my speed a lot more than my power. My power comes from my speed. I throw a lot of punches. I move a lot. I have good defense. I prepare my attacks. I'm a very smart boxer."
England's Matthew Hatton, Ricky's younger brother who is 35-4 with one drawn record and 13 knockouts, has an eight-round welterweight undercard bout against Mexico's Ernesto Zepeda, 39-11 wioth four drawn and 34 knockouts.
Also on the card is Filipino lightweight Bernabe Concepcion, 28-1 with one draw and 17 knockouts, who will face Colombian Yogli Herrera, 21-8 with 15 knockouts.
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