Pascal to Cloud: No excuses

Former RING and WBC light heavyweight champ Jean Pascal of Canada told IBF beltholder Tavoris Cloud of Tallahassee, Fla., that he wanted "no excuses" when they clash on Showtime on Aug. 11 in Montreal.

"You’re a warrior like me, and this fight will not go to the distance. I’m not saying that I’m going to knock him out. That’s not what I’m saying right now," said Pascal, during a Wednesday press conference in Montreal.

"I’m just saying it won’t go the distance, which is why you have to tune in Aug. 11...I hope Cloud comes in the best shape, because I don’t want any excuses. And I won’t have any excuses either."

Pascal (26-2-1, 16 knockouts) and Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs) are ranked Nos. 2 and 3 by THE RING in their division.

"When I think about this fight, wow!" said Cloud, who, like Pascal, is coming off a disappointing performance. "Jean Pascal’s style and my style are perfect for each other. It will be a hell of a fight."

Cloud was last in the ring in February for a controversial Showtime-televised split-decision over Gabriel Campillo (21-4-1, 8 KOs).

After being dropped twice in the first round by Cloud, Campillo, a 6-foot-3 southpaw, appeared to thoroughly take control for the rest of the fight and deserved to win, according to most observers.

"I’m coming away with my title still intact," said Cloud, whose trainer, Al Bonani, said the figher was thrown off by the fact that his scheduled New Year's eve bout with the shorter Zsolt Erdei was canceled when Erdei withdrew with an injury.

"I’m just glad to be here. Montreal is a beautiful place. I’m putting in a lot of hard work for this fight and on Aug. 11, I look forward to putting on a great show for you guys. Pascal could think he is the gatekeeper to bigger and better things for me, but I just come in and fight my fight."

Former RING and WBC champ Bernard Hopkins, who turned 47 in January, dethroned Pascal as WBC beltholder by unanimous decision last May to become the oldest man to win a significant title belt in boxing.

Hopkins-Pascal II was a rematch of their disputed draw in December of 2010, during which Hopkins rose from two early knockdowns.

Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) was dethroned by unanimous decision in April by southpaw contender Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs), their initial bout having ended in controversy in October. Pascal had vanquished Dawson by 11th-round technical decision in August of 2010.

"Cloud is the current world champion, but unfortunately for him, on Aug. 11, he is going to leave as the former world champion, and I am going to be a two-time world champion," said Pascal.

"This man right here [Cloud] is dangerous. He is hungry but, with all due respect, I don’t think you are going to make your name on me. I know this is a big opportunity for you because I ‘m the door to success and big money."

In the co-feature, Canadian super middleweight knockout artist Adonis "Superman" Stevenson, (18-1, 15 KOs), of Montreal, will be matched agaisnt an opponent to be determined.

Trained by Emmanuel Steward, Stevenson, 34, is coming off April's second-round knockout of Noe Gonzalez, who entered the bout with a mark of 27-1 that included 20 knockouts.

Photo by Tom Casino, Showtime

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com