Jean Pascal isn’t concerned about the perception that he is over the hill.
The former light heavyweight champion from Haiti and longtime divisional fixture is set to take on Michael Eifert of Germany tonight in a 12-round IBF eliminator at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Pascal’s adopted hometown. The IBF champion is fellow Quebec transplant Artur Beterbiev of Russia, who also holds the WBC and WBO titles.
At 40 years of age, Pascal is 15 years older than the 25-year-old Eifert. But the fan-friendly fighter has experienced a resurgence in his career lately, reeling off three straight wins over Marcus Browne, Badou Jack, and Fanlong Meng.
Pascal initially retired in 2017 after stopping Ahmed Elbiali, but he resumed his career several months later.
“I am very confident (against Eifert). I’m 40 years old, but I’m a young 40 years. Black don’t crack,” Pascal said with a laugh during an appearance on the talk show Le Monde à L’envers. “So I’m really confident.”
Pascal has not fought in his native Quebec since 2018, when he stopped Steve Bosse in eight rounds.
While Pascal has scaled the heights of the division once more, he has also been the recipient of troubling circumstances outside the ring. In May 2021, he tested positive for several banned performance-enhancing substances ahead of a scheduled rematch with Jack. A couple of weeks later, in a separate test, he tested positive again for two of the four original substances. Pascal blamed his strength and conditioning coach at the time.
Last November, Pascal was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in downtown Montreal.
Pascal brushed aside some of the bad press he has received.
“I know myself very well,” Pascal said. “They love to put controversy to Jean Pascal, but I’m very simple and I am a good person.
“It doesn’t show up on TV, but I’m someone who is very humble. Both my feet are on the ground, but my head is the clouds.”
Pascal promised to dedicate his next to his daughter.
“My daughter doesn’t like my line of work, but she is my greatest fan,” Pascal said. “I’m a single father, and she is always at my fights.”