By Sarkis Aghbashian: There are talks about David Lemieux (33-2-31 KO’s), ranked #5 by IBF and #2 by WBC, facing the French Cameroonian #1 IBF Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1-18 KO’s) for the vacant middleweight IBF title. The title belonged to Jermain Taylor (33-4-1-20 KO’s) who got in trouble with the law and had to vacate his belt.
The fight between Lemieux and Hassan is still not an official done deal, but I think it will happen in May or beginning of June 2015. The fight will happen in Montreal at the Centre Bell and not in the U.S. Even though Lemieux got the U.S public’s interest after defeating the brave Gabriel Rosado by a 10th round TKO in New York on HBO. N’Dam is no big name in the states and Lemieux is the superstar in Montreal. Golden Boy, with whom Lemieux signed, will push the fight to be in Montreal because it will be a sold out show and will generate big numbers on HBO.
If the fight happens it will be a tough fight for both of them. Hassan has speed and David has power. Hassan’s only loss came from WBO champion Peter Quillin when he got dropped six times back in 2012. Lemieux’s back to back losses came from Marcos Antonio Rubio and Joachim Alcine. As a result, Lemieux changed his trainer, went back to the drawing board and had to make some adjustments that paid him off dividends. After those defeats he won 8 straights, 7 by KO. Yes, I admit, it was not all big names Lemieux defeated but it’s a good start.
Hassan will be using his speed, his jab and he will be running in circles around David. If Hassan even thinks about fighting toe to toe or staying in the corner with David, it’s all over for him. With 88% KO average for David, we all know the power of David, it will be a short night for Hassan. For David to win he needs to counter punch Hassan and put constant pressure on him. He can’t allow to fight in distance cause Hassan has height and reach advantage over David. Lemieux needs to avoid the jabs of Hassan and he needs to attack the body to slow him down in the later rounds. My prediction: a tough win for Lemieux.
Now let’s just say Lemieux wins, what’s next for him? Gennady “GGG” Golovkin? I really hope this fight happens by the end of 2015. Golovkin defeated a brave Martin Murray by a 11th round TKO last Saturday night in their fight in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Golovkin and David two great power punchers which will make any boxing fan very happy. We would finally see someone who can punch back at Golovkin with the same strength.
2015 will be a great year for boxing fans around the world, with fights such as Kovalev vs Pascal, Garcia vs Peterson, Lucas Matthysse vs. Ruslan Provodnikov, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. James Kirkland and many more. And let’s not forget, the cherry on top: Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Manny Pacquiao.
Comments are closed.