By Geno McGahee
Dmitry Bivol, 15-0, 11 KO’s, was able to maintain his focus and control the former light heavyweight champion, Jean Pascal, 33-6-1, 20 KO’s, cruising to a wide unanimous decision by scores of 117-111, 119-109 (twice) . Pascal was just a shell of his former self and he wasn’t able to resurrect the champion fighter that we once knew on this night. He still had the heart and wanted to do well, but it just wasn’t there.
We learned some things about Bivol, or at least verified them. He’s not a power puncher. He has pop, but he is not the killer puncher that he was advertised as. He is a skillful boxer/puncher and it was on great display tonight. Bivol didn’t risk a lot. He moved and used his skills and superior reflexes to overcome the older challenger.
To the great credit of Pascal, he tried very hard to land, especially in the last three rounds. His lunging power punches just were not the answer on this night and it may be the fight to convince Pascal to finally hang up the gloves. Bivol is still a question mark. He is a great fighter, but he has yet to fight opposition that can land and can challenge him. He has not had an opponent that has pushed him and Pascal didn’t either.
Bivol holds onto his WBA light heavyweight title but the illusion of him being a huge puncher is now exposed, but it doesn’t take away from his skillset and other attributes that make him one of the best 175 pounders in boxing today.
