Kovalev is aiming to build on his dominant performance against the legendary Bernard Hopkins this Saturday night as the strong Russian tackles Pascal on his home soil at the Bell Centre in Canada.
Pascal, 32, is hoping to reclaim his status as world title holder at 175lbs for the first time since 2011 when ironically the Haitian-born star was dethroned by Hopkins at the same venue.
The winner of this weekend’s bout is in line for super-fight with current WBC champion Adonis Stevenson later in the year.