ROAD WARRIOR
Lemieux facing big test in New York
VERONA, N.Y. David Lemieux smiled broadly, and breathed deeply, seconds after stepping on the scale and having his weight announced — 159 even, a pound under the middleweight limit.
The Laval boxer and former International Boxing Federation world champion has had weight issues in the past, but this wouldn’t be one of those occasions. Still, there’s no doubt it’s Lemieux who has more at stake when he steps into the ring Saturday night against American Curtis Stevens in the 12-round main event at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Not only is Lemieux, 36-3 with 32 knockouts, fighting on the road, he won’t have the benefit of a Canadian official, which can weigh heavily should the bout go the distance — which isn’t expected. Referee Charlie Fitch along with judges Glenn Feldman, Tom Schreck and Don Trella are all American.
And the bout, part of HBO’s Boxing After Dark series, isn’t expected to begin until at least midnight.
“I think it’s a fight Lemieux’s people didn’t really want to take,” said U.S. matchmaker Don Majeski. “It’s a hard fight with not much to get out of it. This is a crossroads fight for Lemieux. He really has to win it. Lemieux has got a lot on him ... and he has a lot more to lose.
“The risk is too high for the reward. Stevens is a hard guy to knock out.”
The 28-year-old Lemieux, rated third by the World Boxing Council, fourth by the World Boxing Organization and sixth by the IBF, will put the North American version of the WBO’s title on the line. Stevens (29-5 with 21 KOs) is risking his WBC Continental belt. Stevens, 31, is rated second by the WBC and fifth by the IBF.
The middleweight division is a marquee weight class, with the likes of Gennady Golovkin — whom both Lemieux and Stevens lost to — Canelo Alvarez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Daniel Jacobs and Billy Joe Saunders all prominent. HBO wanted Lemieux to meet Stevens and, should the Quebecer succeed, he hopes to fight Alvarez, preparing for a May bout against Chavez.
“When you do an HBO main event, it’s always worth the reward,” said Camille Estephan, Lemieux’s co-promoter. “We had a choice — wait to fight Canelo in September or December or stay active. Staying active in an HBO main event is never something to sneeze at.
“Honestly, we’ve done our homework very well. We should pass the test. David slept very well (Thursday) night. That’s rare for a fighter making weight.”
Marc Ramsay, Lemieux’s trainer, scheduled late-night workout sessions recently to ensure the boxer’s body is awake at that hour. And Friday’s late-afternoon weigh-in meant Lemieux didn’t have to support 160 pounds for up to 12 hours; he could gradually shed the last pound or two.
“He’s risking more, but it’s a risky business,” Ramsay admitted.
Lemieux has won two consecutive bouts since getting demolished by Golovkin in eight onesided rounds at Madison Square Garden in October 2015. Lemieux was making the first defence of the vacant title he captured four months earlier against Hassan N’Dam at the Bell Centre.
Ramsay has attempted to refine Lemieux’s skills, while making him a more-complete pugilist.
“His understanding. What you need to win at the top level,” Ramsay explained. “Be more sophisticated with your boxing. Use all your tools — speed, ability and good technique. You can’t just go and bang with everybody and expect to win against the top fighters. You need to box.”
Similarly, John David Jackson, Stevens’ new trainer who will mark his third time in the corner, has used a similar philosophy. Stevens, like Lemieux, will come forward and throw howitzers. But Jackson wants him to box and, above all, not attempt to trade punch for punch.
“Curtis can’t get caught up in a shootout with Lemieux, who is very strong and a good puncher,” Jackson explained. “Curtis is the better boxer. He needs to box and have a good jab option. Don’t fight Lemieux’s game.
“He needs to be smart. Get hit with one shot but not the same one a second time. The second may be harder. Become the better boxer. He rarely uses his boxing skills. Lemieux may not be the stronger fighter, but he’s just as strong. He’s just as dangerous.”
Nonetheless, Jackson believes Lemieux has limited boxing skills, porous defensive ability and telegraphs his punches from outside.
“He has limited defensive skills. Once he gets hit, he gets into that do-or-die mode,” Jackson said. “Usually, he prevails because he’s a strong guy. And his shots are very wide.”
This will mark the third time Jackson and Ramsay have worked opposite corners — Sergey Kovalev twice having defeated Jean Pascal. While it’s up to the fighters once the bell rings, a trainer can make a difference in the buildup and between rounds.
“I would hope (Ramsay) would want to get a win over me and this is the fight he’d want for it to happen,” Jackson said. “He might overlook certain things. Maybe his fighter will be more reckless.”
Countered Ramsay: “You can be a good coach, but you need the horse to win the race.”
The purse for both boxers is believed to be in the US$400,000 range.
Also on the card is Montreal’s Yves Ulysse (12-0, 8 KOs) who meets Zachary Ochoa (16-0, 7 KOs) in a 10 rounder for the vacant junior North American super-lightweight title.
Use all your tools — speed, ability and good technique. You can’t just go and bang with everybody and expect to win against the top fighters.