“I Make Him More Pain”—KOVALEV KRUSHES IN CANADA

By Michael Woods

Just in case you weren't sure if his heart contained more than a hint of darkness, after Sergey Kovalev whacked around Jean Pascal for seven rounds, he was asked by HBO's Max Kellerman if indeed, he was holding back some of his offense in order to prolong the torture session at Bell Centre.

Maybe you expected him to get gracious, as is customary; oh no, “Krusher” (in David Spagnolo pic) told Max that Pascal is disrespectful, and said, “Yes, I would fight more rounds and make him more pain. Punish him more.”

Insert grimace face emoticon…

Certified badass, my friends. He said,” I punished not good person,” and that he did.

Trainer Freddie Roach pulled the plug, as he threatened to the round before, and this time, Pascal didn't protest.

The Haitian-born boxer did well to make it seven rounds, the numbers can attest to that. This was more lopsided than their tangle last year, with the human ricin Kovalev going 165/412, the majority of them brain rattlers, liver shifters and rib breakers. Pascal landed 30 punches according to Compubox, of 108 hurled.

Pascal, who told Max the winner is a great champ, said that he would be back. Many booed and one wonders if Kovalev isn't right and that many locals don't dig the Montrealer.

An appearance by Adonis Stevenson was mocked by the HBO crew, as Lampley and Max and Bernard Hopkins made clear they thought his presence was pure theatrics. Kovalev did a duck call and grinned mockingly at “Superman.”

My take: Props to Pascal for his brave heart. He stayed stubborn and to me it was appropriate for Roach to let the ex champ try one more round. But he reverted to form, as the exploding counter puncher, after jabbing smartly in round one. Humans do this, they revert to form…

It is clear, the Kovalev v Ward fight needs to be made for Kovey's next. The man is not being tested and is spurring too much down the line CTE.

It was a triumphant night for promoter Main Events and I do think many minds shifted, with more folks thinking Kovalev will be able land on Ward, and hurt him.