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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Lemieux Ready For His Next
Challenge,
Dec. 17 In California On HBO
By Daniel Cloutier
Photos: William Trillo
MONTRÉAL — A few minutes after his win by shutout over the
Argentinian Cristian Fabian Rios Saturday evening in the
ring of the Bell Centre, the Montrealer middleweight David
Lemieux confirmed he is ready to dispute his next bout
December 17th in Los Angeles, in a HBO Boxing night
involving the former middleweight and light heavyweight
champion of the world, Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2), who will
make his last presence in a boxing ring before announce his
retirement. Hopkins is 51 years old.
Lemieux, who won by unanimous decision Saturday night,
dominated Rios (21-8-0) by… 10 rounds to noting. Two of the
three judges gave all the rounds to Lemieux, the other one
gave him a score of 9-1.
“I really hoped to become the first fighter to beat Rios by
KO or TKO, but what can I tell you? I made some technical
mistakes which prevented me to score a KO or a TKO, said
Lemieux in a press conference after the bout. I was not very
patient in this bout. I was attacking Rios furiously in
every rounds and I wasted several shots. And in the first
rounds, I let Rios connect me with few solid power shots in
keeping my gloves too low. It was not a perfect performance,
I got to admit it, but I certainly deserved the win. In
every round, I was the aggressor like you saw it. I was
extremely intense in each round, and Rios was working
defensively in almost every rounds. But I got to admit that
this guy is extremely tough. I hurt him many times with my
body punches, but he always found a way to resist to my
charges. I got to give him credit for that. But I can
promise you I won’t repeat these technical mistakes in my
next fights. I can’t. My opponents will be more dangerous.”
Talking about next fight, Lemieux (36-3-0) confirmed he will
have his next bout in December. “I will be back in the ring
December 17th, apparently in California, and trust me, I
will be ready for this next challenge.”
Camille Estephan, the promoter-manager of The Eye Of The
Tiger Management Group in Montréal, is expecting to finalize
a deal with Oscar De La Hoya in the next days, concerning
this bout scheduled for December 17th. “Yes, it’s almost
sure that David will fight December 17th in a HBO Boxing
night presented in Los Angeles, said Estephan. Golden Boy
Promotions (De La Hoya is the owner and the Lemieux’s
promoter) and me should finalize a deal about this event in
the days to come. We are discussing for three potential
opponents, but at this point, I cannot reveal the identity
of these fighters. I don’t want to make the negotiations
more complicated.”
Marc Ramsay, Lemieux’s trainer, was clearly happy after this
clear domination by his fighter in the ring of the Bell
Centre. “David was perfectly prepared for 10 intense rounds,
and he just proved it, said Ramsay. I know David wanted
absolutely to win by KO, but we got to be realistic, it’s a
positive factor the fact he showed a so great stamina. David
was attacking energetically and intensively in every rounds,
but Rios found the way to resist to the last bell. We knew
Rios was tough, very tough.”
Just before the bout Lemieux-Rios, the Montrealer super
welterweight Steven Butler (18-0-1), the IBF Junior-Youth
champion of the world (for fighter of 21 years or less),
scored a first round TKO against another tough fighter, the
Canadian Janks Trotter (10-4-1), from Calgary, Alberta.
“I really believe I just achieved the best performance of my
boxing career, said Butler at this post fight press
conference. Trotter was extremely aggressive at the
beginning of the bout, but I stayed calm and concentrate,
and I opened the machine at the right moment. From the
moment I became the attacker, I could see that all my
punches were hurting severely Trotter. I mentioned several
times I believe I am the most powerful puncher of the super
welterweight (154 pounds) division, and I did not change my
mind.”
Rénald Boisvert, the Butler’s trainer, said: “Steven is
extremely talented and he is very mature for a so young
fighter. No doubt he has a great future on the international
scene. Plus the natural talent, Steven is a very determinate
athlete. He is working so hard in training.”
Estephan agrees with Boisvert. “Fight after fight, Steven is
showing his marvellous potential, said Estephan. He is
actually ranked nine contender by the IBF, and I am positive
his name will figure in the “Top five” of the IBF ratings in
2017. No doubt in my mind, Steven will play a major role on
the international scene in the years to come. He is not only
a destructive puncher, he is very intelligent in the ring.
He is fighting with intensity, discipline and intelligence.
I am positive that our boxing fans will live marvellous
moments with Steven and David Lemieux in 2017 and 2018.”
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