By Dan Ambrose: David Lemieux (37-3, 33 KOs) showed that he still has enormous power last Saturday night in taking out Curtis Stevens (29-6, 21 KOs) in 3 rounds, and he’s now interested in facing Saul “Canelo” Alvarez before a rematch against Gennady Golovkin. Lemieux might have a difficult time getting the fight against Canelo in 2017, because he’s already scheduled to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6.
Following that fight, Canelo could be facing Golovkin in September and then Miguel Cotto in December. Those are the tentative plans for Canelo’s promoters at Golden Boy. Lemieux might need another big win for him to insert himself into the equation to get a crack at Canelo. Beating the 32-year-old Curtis Stevens was a nice win for Lemieux, but it’s going to take more than that for him to jump ahead of Golovkin in the line to fight Canelo.
“I wanted to make a statement and I did,” said Lemieux about his win over Stevens. “You have to humble yourself or you’ll be humbled. Tonight, I wanted to make an example out of him because no fighter deserves to be degraded like that. You don’t need somebody to try and degrade you. It’s like that in boxing and it’s like that in life. I made a statement. We’re going to go on to much bigger and better fights. I’m ready. Are they ready that’s the question? You don’t want to put gas on a fighter and watch it grow and grow. You’re going to eventually get burned. I know Stevens is a strong kid, but I’m stronger and I proved it in every way. I did a statement. Don’t talk so much. I hope he’ll be OK. I hope he goes back to his family. I’m not here to kill anybody, even though I said I wanted to hurt him. I did,” said Lemieux.
Beating Stevens is not that big of a deal. Lemieux is talking as if Stevens hasn’t been beaten before. The fact is Stevens was beaten by Hassan N’Dam by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision in 2014, and by Golovkin by an 8th round stoppage in 2013. If Lemieux wanted to make a statement against Stevens, he’s a bit late in doing so. He’d already been beaten two times in his last 6 fights going into last night’s fight against the Turning Stone.
When asked if Stevens’ power compares to Gennady Golovkin’s power, Lemieux said, “It’s two different powers. Triple G is stronger. Curtis is not as strong as Triple G. He has a good hook. Triple G is stronger, but a different kind of power. Triple G is not too explosive, just heavy-handed. Like I said, I’m willing to fight anybody, including Triple G, but there are plans before. Canelo could be a nice option before or any other fighters on top, Saunders. I’m willing to fight the best. To be the best, I’ve got to beat the best. Through my eyes, who’s on top right now is Triple G,” said Lemieux.
Golovkin obviously is a bigger puncher than Stevens. The 5’10 ½” Golovkin is not only a stronger fighter than the 5’7” Stevens, but he’s a little heavier and taller than him. Lemieux couldn’t handle Golovkin’s power at all. Lemieux was dropped by Golovkin on round 5, and stopped in round 8 in their fight in October 2015. Golovkin was just too powerful and his body punching was so precise. Lemieux has since won his last 3 fights, but he’s not beaten anyone terribly talented to show that he’s coming back from the loss.
Lemieux will eventually get a fight against Canelo, but probably not this year. If Golden Boy chooses not to put Canelo in with Golovkin, then Lemieux could get his chance at fighting him. It would be a risky thing for Golden Boy to do though, because Lemieux can punch with incredible power. If he’s able to hit Canelo with one of his big left hooks, we could see an upset. Canelo vs. Lemieux wouldn’t be nearly as big a fight as Canelo-Golovkin. Golden Boy would be better off taking the Golovkin fight now, and keeping Lemieux for Canelo to fight in 2018.
When asked if his knockout win over Stevens will strike fear in the boxing world for other fighters, Lemieux said, “For sure, it can create some fear in the middleweight division. It’s just me. It’s going to get stronger. I’m getting into the years of my strongest years in my career. I’m reaching my peak. Whoever I face, I’ll be ready for them; if it’s Canelo, [Billy Joe] Saunders or if it’s a rematch with Golovkin. I don’t just talk. I do. I’ve done it, and I’ll do it again. I’ll get a beating and come back. I’ve very determined to be on top and I’ll be on top,” said Lemieux.
It’s questionable whether the other top contenders are going to be afraid of Lemieux after his knockout of Stevens. Golovkin already showed how to beat Lemieux by using a jab. The 5’7” Stevens was too small to use his jab in a similar way to beat Lemieux. But if Lemieux faces one of the good contenders in the division like Daniel Jacobs, he’ll have a good chance of losing. Lemieux is talking as if he wants the Canelo fight straightaway without him having to fight anyone good to get that fight. I don’t know if Golden Boy will risk their golden goose Canelo by putting him in with Lemieux right now.