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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Karim Achour: "I Expect To Stop Lemieux Between The 8th &
10th Round"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - The French boxer Karim Achour is living his first
trip in America, and he believes it will be a glorious one.
Ten times French middleweight champion, Achour is looking
now for a place among the best middleweights in the world.
Saturday evening in the ring of the Videotron Centre in
Québec City, Achour (26-4-3) will face the WBC 160 pounds
fourth contender, the Montrealer David Lemieux (38-4-0), in
the main event of a boxing show presented by The Eye Of The
Tiger Management Group, headed by the promoter Camille
Estephan.
When we asked him if this match up with Lemieux is the most
significant bout of his boxing career, Achour smiled. “For
me, all the bouts are extremely important, because it’s
crucial to stay a winner to move up in the international
ratings,” said Achour. “But I got to admit that the fact
that Lemieux is actually ranked fourth contender by the WBC,
it’s a major fact for me. When I will beat him, my name will
certainly appears in the Top 10 of the WBC ratings.”
Achour watched twice Lemieux in action… and twice Lemieux
finished the fight in the looser shoes. “Yes, I watched
Lemieux when he fought Gennady Golovkin and Billy Joe
Saunders,” said Achour. “It’s obvious that he is very strong
physically, he seems to be a dangerous puncher, but no doubt
in mind, I will be the winner next Saturday. I am positive I
am better than him technically. The first three or four
rounds should be extremely intense and spectacular for the
crowd, but more the fight will progress, more I will
dominate the action with my technique and my intelligence. I
am expecting to stop him between the eight and the 10th
round. I got to admit that I am not a destructive puncher,
but my technique can make me a destructive boxer. Technique
and intelligence are precious qualities for a boxer active
on the international boxing scene.”
Lemieux lost by TKO in the eighth round against Gennady
Golovkin in October 2015 in the Madison Square Garden in New
York. It was an unification of the WBC and IBF middleweight
world titles, A fighter from Kazakstan, Golovkin (37-0-1) is
considered actually the best fighter pound for pound in the
world, And last December in Place Bell in Laval, Lemieux
lost by unanimous decision against Saunders, a British who
is the WBO champion of the world. However, Lemieux said it
was impossible for him to jab and use his left hooks against
Saunders, because a constant pain in his left shoulder.
Monday, Lemieux revealed he is ready to fight Achour after
several cortisone injections in his shoulder. He said the
pain is totally disappear.
“It would be ridiculous for me to not respect Lemieux, who
was IBF champion of the world in May 2015,” said Achour.
“But if Lemieux used his power to beat and dominate Hassan
N’Dam N’Jikam in this IBF world championship, this strategy
won’t work with me in the picture. I know how to fight
defensively and offensively. You will understand what I mean
when the fight will started Saturday evening. Its my first
visit in America, it’s true, and I am positive it will be a
glorious one. Power is a good thing for a fighter, but
technique and intelligence are more important for me… and I
have these weapons.”
Achour is more than satisfied of his preparation for this
match up with Lemieux. “Yes, I got a great training camp,
mentally, physically, technically and strategically,” said
Achour. “I am not nervous at all. I am positive it will go
well for me. And I won’t pay attention to the crowd, which
will be on the Lemieux’s side. I will fight with a perfect
concentration from the beginning to the end.”
A fighter of 31 years of age, Achour believes that 2019 will
be the peak of his pro boxing career. “Obviously, I hope to
dispute eventually a world title fight, and I will certainly
be in that position after my fight with Lemieux,” said
Achour.” I achieved great things in Europe so far, it’s time
now to achieve great things on the international boxing
scene.”
Lemieux and Achour will meet the media in Québec City
Wednesday afternoon, when the promoter Camille Estephan will
hold the final press conference of the event at the
Videotron Centre. Apparently, between 6,000 to 10,000 boxing
fans will attenda this bout Saturday evening.
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