Back in September 2004, Jelena Mrdjenovich needed only 4 rounds to prove her dominance over Olivia Gerula. While Mrdjenovich would flourish following the Gerula bout (winning the WBC Super Featherweight title and defending it over her 4 year reign, Gerula floundered, unable to take it up to the next level. The two would meet again in April 2009 with Gerula, high off her upset victory over Raika, and Mrdjenovich, riding a 2 bout winning streak following knee surgery. With Jelena's recognized boxing talent and her longivity at the top of the Super Featherweight division, most boxing scribes expected the Edmonton fighter to duplicate her previous victory over Gerula. The only question was: would it be by knockout or by decision. The rededicated Gerula proved everyone wrong in hanging with Mrdjenovich for the full 10 rounds, doing enough to sway the judges her way in collecting not only the victory but her first professional world title.

Makes sense now that Pascal has two victories to his credit over Diaconu, but going in, Diaconu was world champion and the optional defense was a chance to sell tickets at The Bell Centre as two Montrealers battled for a world championship. Pascal couldn't get it down at 168 pounds where he lost versus Carl Froch, did he really have a chance moving up in weight? Turns out, yes he did!