By Jason Kim: Undefeated middleweight contender David Lemieux (24-0, 23 KO’s) proved yet again that he can beat another B level opponent when he stopped 32-year-old Hector Camacho Jr. (52-4-1, 28 KO’s) in the 1st round on Friday night at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada.

It was good that Lemieux proved that he can continue to beat 2nd tier opposition, but let’s not get it twisted. This wasn’t Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Lucian Bute or Kelly Pavlik that the 21-year-old Lemieux was in there with.

Camacho Jr. looked nothing like a middleweight contender and appeared to resemble more a light welterweight with 20 pounds of excess fat around his midsection. Camacho Jr. has no business fighting at middleweight, because he’s too small at 5’8” and doesn’t have the power. It was good match-making on Lemieux’s management’s part to choose the non-threatening Camacho Jr. to fight instead of middleweight contender.

However, you got to call it for what it is – another B level opponent for Lemieux to pad his record with. As for the knockout, Camacho Jr. was hit with a right hand on the jaw, which didn’t really look like that big of a punch to me. Camacho Jr. had been hurt earlier in the round with another right hand that staggered him briefly.

Lemieux tried to finish him off but kept getting nailed as he would come forward by fast shots from Camacho Jr. It kind of reminded me of the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still in the way that Lemieux was coming forward under a storm of shots from Camacho Jr. and trying to cover up to get in one or two wild shots to try and end it. It was like Keanu Reeves being attacked by the medal eating creatures from that movie.

Like what was pointed out in another article recently, Lemieux looks incredibly short for a 5’10 ½” middleweight. In fact, Lemieux appeared to be the exact same height as the 5’8” Camacho Jr., only with shorter arms than him. That made it tough for Lemieux as he was coming forward because he kept getting nailed by Camacho Jr. over and over again.

At this point, I think Lemieux needs to stay away from the best middleweights in the division Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik. I think those guys are all too big and much too skilled for him. I also would keep Lemieux away from IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute. He has too much size on Lemieux at 6’2”, and would hit and run all night long without getting hit. I think the 21-year-old Lemieux is better off waiting these fighters out until they either retire or age to the point where he can beat them.

Right now, I can’t see Lemieux beating any of these guys. He doesn’t have the height or the reach to do the job in my estimation. The bad thing is even if Lemieux waits them out, there’s likely going to be some tall middleweights that move in and fill the gaps left behind when those fighters retire or lose their effectiveness. In that case, I can see Lemieux being a good gate keeper type fighter or the holder of one of the obscure fringe belts that most boxing fans have never heard of.