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Light heavyweight boxer Jean Pascal was arrested early Friday morning in downtown Montreal on suspicion of driving under the influence.
According to Le Journal de Montreal, Pascal, a former light heavyweight champion and one of the top names in the division for the past decade, was apprehended by police after he made a right turn at a red light.
When Pascal got out of his car, police noticed what appeared to be the smell of alcohol on his breath. However, according to Le Journal, Pascal refused to correctly submit to a breathalyzer test, which was what apparently led to his arrest. Pascal was released soon thereafter. Le Journal notes that Pascal could be charged with driving under the influence. Le Journal noted that Pascal’s team declined to comment on the situation.
Pascal, a Haitian-born, Montreal native, took to Twitter to voice his displeasure (in French) with the police officer who apprehended him.
“The officer who arrested me did not read me my rights,” Pascal wrote in a tweet he deleted a few minutes after posting. “He handcuffed me in public like I was some vulgar street gangster … I am 40 years old with no criminal history. Why such excessive force?”
In a follow up tweet, Pascal tweeted (in French), “Justice for visible minorities!!!”, while tagging the Twitter account of the Montreal police.
Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) is en route to fight Michael Eifert of Germany in an IBF light heavyweight eliminator, according to a report by Jake Donovan of BoxingScene.com. The winner would be in line to fight the IBF champion, Artur Beterbiev, the Russian native, who, like Pascal, resides in Montreal. Beterbiev also holds the WBC and WBO 175-pound titles. The Plant-Eifert fight could take place in Toronto, in the first quarter of 2023.
Pascal, 30, is coming off a points win over Meng Fanlong in May in Plant City, Florida. Pascal tested positive for multiple performance enhancing drugs after his December 2019 fight with Badou Jack, which Pascal won by split decision.