Pascal defenats Diaconu to keep 175-pound title

Published Dec. 17, 2009 12:49 a.m. ET

foxsports

Jean Pascal overcame an apparent shoulder injury to defeat Adrian Diaconu for the second time by unanimous decision on Friday night, keeping his WBC light heavyweight title at the Bell Centre.

Pascal beat Diaconu by unanimous decision on June 19 to capture the title, and won this one in a landslide. Judge Richard Flaherty scored it 118-110, while judges Julie Lederman and Claude Paquette each scored the fight 117-111.

The 30-year-old Diaconu was fighting for the first time since losing to Pascal, while the champion was coming off a knockout win over Silvio Branco in September.

Pascal was busy with combinations, but Diaconu managed to score consistently with his jab. As the fight wore on, it appeared the 27-year-old Pascal was trying to save his energy for a final flurry that might sway the judges.

After fighting to a draw through four rounds, Pascal appeared to lock his right shoulder and aggravate an injury that has plagued him recently. The shoulder seemed to lock up again toward the end of the 10th round, and Pascal even appeared to ask referee Michael Griffin for time before he was saved by the bell.

In his corner between the 10th and 11th rounds, Pascal's trainer worked on the shoulder and it appeared to pop into place. He finished the 11th with another vicious combination, and his flashy style stood in contrast to the jabbing, plodding offense of Diaconu.