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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
David Lemieux: "I Will Leave
The Place Bell
With The WBO Belt In My Hand"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - The Montrealer David Lemieux promised to his fans
that he will realize their dreams… and his dream, in
December. December 16th in the ring of the Place Bell in
Laval (a Montréal northern suburb), Lemieux (38-3-0), a
former IBF middleweight champion of the world, will try to
dethrone the British Billy Joe Saunders (25-0-0) as WBO 160
pounds champion of the world. This championship bout will be
televised by HBO.
“No doubt in my mind, I will leave the Place Bell with the
WBO belt in my hand,” said Lemieux Monday afternoon in a
press conference held at the Bell Centre in Montréal
downtown. “I know that Saunders is not in Montréal to offer
me a Christmas gift. He is here to keep his world title. I
know he will give everything possible in the ring to stay
WBO champion, but I am determinate to dethrone him... and I
will do it. My fans are dreaming to see me become back world
champion, and it’s also my dream. I am sure I will live a
very happy Christmas this year. Oscar De La Hoya (his
promoter), Camille Estephan (his manager) and Marc Ramsay
knows how much it’s important for me to become back world
champion. December 16th, you will see in action a David
Lemieux better than ever.”
Saunders was smiling in hearing Lemieux speaks in English.
“It will be a crucial moment for Lemieux? For me too,” said
Saunders. “All the boxing fans in England know that my
ambition is to face Gennady Golovkin or Saul Canelo Alvarez,
but obviously, I got to take care of Lemieux in first. I saw
Lemieux in action on videos. He is aggressive, he is a
dangerous puncher, but I know I have the technique necessary
to win this fight. I am undefeated in pro boxing, and I am
determinate to stay undefeated. I really believe I have the
weapons necessaries to become unify middleweight champion of
the world in 2018.
Betting odds for the Lemieux vs. Saunders fight give a
slight edge to the hometown challenger Lemieux over the
champion Saunders.
Golovkin (37-0-1) and Alvarez (49-1-2) tried to unify the
middleweight world titles September 16th in Las Vegas, but
their fight finished by a draw. We can presume that a
rematch will be organized in 2018.
Marc Ramsay, Lemieux’s trainer, said: “David and me are so
happy to see this WBO middleweight championship of the world
become reality. As you know, David lost his IBF title in
2015 (a defeat by TKO in the eight round against Golovkin at
Madison Square Garden in New York)), and since that moment,
he is working like hell in the gym and each fight in hoping
to become back world champion. It’s clearly his greatest
ambition. My prediction? He will achieve it December 16th.
David is so motivated. Trust me, for December 16th, he will
have a great preparation technically, physically and
strategically, and I am sure you will see him at his best
December 16th. For sure, I want to thank so much Golden Boy
Promotions and Camille Estephan for their efforts to make
this event a reality. It’s so crucial for the David
Lemieux’s future on the international scene. Few months ago,
David told me: “I am ready to face all the big names on the
planet (in the middleweight division), because it’s a must
for me to become back the world champion.”
Dominic Ingle, Saunders trainer, is not worried at all for
his fighter. “David Lemieux is a great puncher, but my
fighter is a great boxer,” said Ingle at this press
conference. “Billy Joe knows perfectly what to achieve to
stay WBO world champion, and he will do it December 16th.
Billy Joe is so determinate to become unify champion of the
world. I am expecting an intense fight December 16th, but my
fighter will walk in the ring with his WBO belt in his hand…
and get out of ring with the WBO belt in his hands.”
Camille Estephan believes that the Montréal boxing fans will
live a memorable moment December 16th. :Golden Boy
Promotions and I are extremely proud to organize this event,
and it will certainly be a Christmas gift for the Montréal
boxing fans, said Estephan. I am expecting a spectacular
bout, but no doubt in my mind, David Lemieux will complete
the 2017 year in the WBO middleweight champion of the world
shoes…”
Estephan, who is expecting a good crowd December 16th, will
announce soon the undercard.
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