Jean Pascal (31-4-1, 18 KOs), a former WBC 175-pound champion who has faced some of the world’s best light heavyweights over the past decade, admits that he can't afford to lose this Saturday night, when he faces undefeated Eleider Alvarez (22-0, 11 KOs) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Photo by Stephanie Trapp.

Pascal vs. Alvarez will be the Showtime televised co-feature to the light heavyweight rematch between Adonis Stevenson and Andrzej Fonfara, who collide for the WBC championship.

The winners of both light heavyweight bouts will clash in the fall. Alvarez is currently the WBC's mandatory challenger to Stevenson's title.

Pascal has a huge edge in experience, with two fights against Sergey Kovalev, two fights against Bernard Hopkins, fights with Lucian Bute, Carl Froch, Chad Dawson and several others.

The former world champion is viewed be many as being near the end of his career. Some believe that he hasn't looked the same after going to war in his first bout with Kovalev in March 2015.

Pascal admits that his career is at stake in the contest.

“Winning is the only option for me. I’ve been in some battles, but my tank is still full," Pascal said.

 “I’ve faced way better opposition than him.  I’ve been there, done that on the big stage.  This is a big, big fight, and I’ve been here before.  That’s the thing with experience – you can’t buy experience.  You have to live it, and I’ve lived it many times.  I’m ready to be on the big stage once again.

“Training camp went really well.  I was with Roy Jones Jr. and Stephane Larouche and we stayed in Montreal for the whole camp.  We had no injuries and we’re ready to go on Saturday.

A few years ago, Pascal actually sparred with Alvarez. Both of them are familiar with each other, but that factor doesn't worry the Canadian star.

“Sparring with Alvarez isn’t really an advantage for me.  The last time we sparred was like two or three years ago.  I know him, but he knows me also.  I actually have two strikes against me – he knows me well, but his coach knows me by heart because he’s my former coach.  But none of that matters.  I’ve done my homework and I know what to do in the ring. Right now my focus is on Alvarez.  After the referee raises my hand and we’ll see what’s next," Pascal said.