David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens to Settle Differences
David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens to Settle Differences
In a battle of hard-hitting middleweights David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens will square off March 11.
It’s a fight that has been in discussions for a year and finally it’s going to happen.
On March 11, Montreal’s David Lemieux (36-3) will take on Brownesville’s Curtis Stevens (29-5) in a battle of two of the heaviest hitting middleweights in the world. The fight will be 12 rounds for the NABO Middleweight Champion and will take place at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. It will air on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
A former IBF Middleweight Champion, Lemieux is still rebuilding from a one-sided loss to pound-for-pound great Gennady Golovkin in October of 2015. Since then, he has put together victories over rugged journeyman Glen Tapia in May of 2016 and Christian Rios in October of 2016.
Prior to the Golovkin loss, Lemieux had put together an impressive string of victories including wins over Fernando Guerrero and fan-favourite Gabriel Rosado, as well as his championship victory over Hassan N’Dam.
“The time for talking is done, and after many long months of hearing Curtis yell about all the things he’s going to do in the ring, I’m really looking forward to shutting his mouth on March 11,” Lemieux said via press release. “I’ve told everyone my goal is to once again become middleweight champion of the world. Curtis is in the way, and I’m going to go right through him.”
Stevens is on a comeback trail of his own, coming off losses to Golovkin in November of 2013 and N’Dam in December of 2014. Like Lemieux, Stevens has put together two straight victories, including a knockout of then undefeated prospect Patrick Teixeira in May of 2016 and James De la Rosa in November of 2016.
“We often see fighters pretend not to like each other to help draw an audience – these two guys aren’t faking it; they don’t like each other at all,” said Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions in a press release. “Given the thunder each holds in both hands and their desire to make a statement in the middleweight division, I think fans are going to be in for a knockout – and a spectacular one at that.”
Lemieux and Stevens have gone back and forth on social media for months, with both calling the other one out in an attempt to get the fight made. Finally, it looks like both are getting their way. The winner will almost certainly put themselves in line for a world title shot.
No undercard fights have been announced.
By Shawn Smith
On March 11, Montreal’s David Lemieux (36-3) will take on Brownesville’s Curtis Stevens (29-5) in a battle of two of the heaviest hitting middleweights in the world. The fight will be 12 rounds for the NABO Middleweight Champion and will take place at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. It will air on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
A former IBF Middleweight Champion, Lemieux is still rebuilding from a one-sided loss to pound-for-pound great Gennady Golovkin in October of 2015. Since then, he has put together victories over rugged journeyman Glen Tapia in May of 2016 and Christian Rios in October of 2016.
Prior to the Golovkin loss, Lemieux had put together an impressive string of victories including wins over Fernando Guerrero and fan-favourite Gabriel Rosado, as well as his championship victory over Hassan N’Dam.
“The time for talking is done, and after many long months of hearing Curtis yell about all the things he’s going to do in the ring, I’m really looking forward to shutting his mouth on March 11,” Lemieux said via press release. “I’ve told everyone my goal is to once again become middleweight champion of the world. Curtis is in the way, and I’m going to go right through him.”
Stevens is on a comeback trail of his own, coming off losses to Golovkin in November of 2013 and N’Dam in December of 2014. Like Lemieux, Stevens has put together two straight victories, including a knockout of then undefeated prospect Patrick Teixeira in May of 2016 and James De la Rosa in November of 2016.
“We often see fighters pretend not to like each other to help draw an audience – these two guys aren’t faking it; they don’t like each other at all,” said Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions in a press release. “Given the thunder each holds in both hands and their desire to make a statement in the middleweight division, I think fans are going to be in for a knockout – and a spectacular one at that.”
Lemieux and Stevens have gone back and forth on social media for months, with both calling the other one out in an attempt to get the fight made. Finally, it looks like both are getting their way. The winner will almost certainly put themselves in line for a world title shot.
No undercard fights have been announced.
By Shawn Smith