Light heavyweight boxers Jean Pascal and Francis Lafreniere both made weight on Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of their NABA Gold title championship bout scheduled for Saturday at the Colisee de Laval.
Former world champion Pascal initially weighed in 0.7 pounds over the mandatory 175-pound limit at the New Era Sports & Entertainment event, but reached 173.65 pounds after an hour and a half of additional training.
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Pascal attributed the initial miss to a malfunctioning scale, stating it was the first time in his career he encountered such an issue.
Lafreniere easily secured his spot on the card by weighing in at 174.4 pounds, marking a significant drop from his walking weight of 205 to 210 pounds during his six-year retirement.
Lafreniere confirmed this bout against Pascal would serve as the final performance of his 21-year boxing career, regardless of the outcome.
He spent five months preparing for this matchup alongside his longtime trainer, Howard Grant, who has coached the athlete for over two decades.
Lafreniere expressed profound appreciation for the opportunity to test his skills against an elite opponent before stepping away from professional competition entirely.
He noted that his intense preparation leaves him completely at peace with his choice to retire following Saturday night's local event.
Lafreniere added that returning to the ring after a lengthy period of competitive inactivity allowed him to secure meaningful personal achievements.
He acknowledged that concluding his lifelong dedication to training alongside his teammates brings forth inevitable sentimental reflections.
