What’s next for Badou Jack after Jean Pascal’s positive PED test?

Jean Pascal and Badou Jack were set for a rematch on the undercard of Mayweather vs. Paul, but Pascal tested positive for multiple PEDs.

The rematch between light heavyweights Jean Pascal and Badou Jack was the primary contest adding legitimacy to the June 6 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Logan Paul event. Unfortunately, Pascal vs. Jack is off after Pascal tested positive for numerous PEDs.

Late on Friday, May 28, reports came out of Pascal’s failed tests. Yahoo.com’s Kevin Iole tweeted that Pascal tested positive for Epitrenbolone, Drostanolone, and Drostanolone Metabolite A. All are classified as anabolic steroids.

With his failed tests, Pascal is off the card and could face disciplinary action pending an investigation.

Jack wasn’t happy after hearing the bad news.

“My fight with @jeanpascalchamp is OFF as he tested positive for 3 different steroids,” tweeted Jack. “We suspected he was dirty the first time around and @Vada_testing confirmed it this time. I’m still fighting on June 6th and my team is looking for a replacement opponent. Alhamdulillah”

According to Jack, he’s still on the Mayweather vs. Paul card but will be fighting a replacement. It will be hard to find a qualified opponent on short notice. This badly hurts the quality of the Mayweather vs. Paul card, but the show must go on.

With Jean Pascal’s positive PED test result, Badou Jack is on the hunt for a new opponent on June 6

Pascal and Jack fought in an exciting bout back in December of 2019. Jack was knocked down in round 4 but sent Pascal to the canvas in the final round. Pascal won the fight by a close split decision.

Leading up to their fight, Pascal and Jack entertained in some pre-fight smack talk during a May 25 media call.

While talking to FanSided in separate interviews, Jack and Pascal had nice things to say about one another.

“He’s a cool guy, and I like him,” said Jack about Pascal at the time. “I was rooting for him in his fight against Marcus Browne before mine.”

Pascal was equally complimentary to Jack while speaking to FanSided.

“I think we have a good relationship because first Badou is a friend of mine,” said Pascal of Jack. “He’s a great human being. A gentleman in and out of the ring.”

Those sentiments are likely out the window now, at least from Jack’s perspective. Pascal’s failed test results insinuate that he was taking dangerous shortcuts to hurt his opponent, who he called his friend to FanSided just a day before his failed tests came to light.

Jack was active on Twitter following the news about Pascal. He brought up a bad experience with former opponent Lucian Bute and continued to talk about Pascal’s failed tests.

The friendship between Jack and Pascal is probably over, and for a good reason. We’ll have to wait and see who will be Jack’s new opponent on June 6.