Light heavyweight champ Kovalev wants to quiet Pascal in rematch

Sergey Kovalev already has a victory over Jean Pascal, an eighth-round technical knockout. So why fight him again?

Mainly, Pascal's big mouth.

The two light heavyweights, who fought in March, will meet today on HBO at Montreal's Bell Centre, where Kovalev's World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council titles will be at stake. But Kovalev (28-0-1, 17 knockouts) doesn't seem too concerned. Even with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach having been recruited to work Pascal's corner.

"First of all, Pascal has said bad things to my side," Kovalev said. "I have a reason for fighting him.

"I think Pascal has reason to say thank you to Louis Pabon, the referee for the fight. He forgot to say thank you very much that he saved his health and life maybe. Because he was already "drunk," you know, like spaghetti legs.

"I did a lot of mistakes in our last fight, and right now I try to fix it. I try to be better. ... it's a secret about my mistakes, and just me and my trainer know about my mistakes. I learned from my first fight. Right now, I fix it and try to be creative, do everything exactly correct and try to fight more harder and try to stop Pascal early this time."

Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs) accused Kovalev of making racist remarks before their first fight. At Wednesday's final news conference, Pascal, who is black, handed out bananas, including one to John David Jackson, Kovalev's trainer, who is also black.

The two nearly came to blows. But Pascal knows he's going to have to fight better this time if he expects a different result.

Roach said his fighter can win as long as he doesn't lay on the ropes and be a stationary target for Kovalev. An improved defense is Pascal's best chance to win.

Kovalev said he has added motivation because of Roach.

"Yes, it gave me new motivation because he could bring something new from Freddie Roach," he said. "It should be, but we'll see. It helped me work more, more, more and be ready for what he will bring."

• PACMAN ESPY FOR AUCTION — In 2011, Manny Pacquiao received an ESPY Award for "Best Fighter." The ESPY is currently up for auction online after someone claims to have found the award in a garbage can near the Stratosphere.

The woman attempted to reach Pacquiao through Facebook regarding his ESPY, but he never responded, she said. So she's putting it up for auction.

Heritage Auctions, which is overseeing the item's sale, opened the bidding at $2,500. The estimated value is $10,000. Bidding runs through Feb. 21. To bid, go to ha.com.

• GARCIA-GUERRERO RATINGS — Last week's Premier Boxing Champions welterweight title fight between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero on Fox Sports did a 1.5 rating, according to Nielsen Market Research.

The 1.5 share equated to about 2.5 million viewers for what was Fox's first boxing event televised in prime time since 1996. The telecast peaked at 3.5 million viewers as the fight was ending, and an estimated 6.2 million viewers watched all or part of the telecast.

Garcia, a former 140-pound world champion, won a 12-round unanimous decision and the vacant WBC title.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj