David Lemieux, centre, stands over Hassan N’Dam after knocking him down as they battle for the vacant International Boxing Federation middleweight championship Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
MONTREAL — David Lemiuex captured the IBF middleweight title last night in a action-packed slugfest against Hassan N’Dam, scoring four brutal knockdowns in route to a unanimous decision (115-109 twice, 110-114).
SEEK N DESTROY: Lemieux’s non-stop aggression was a sight to see. He gave N’Dam little breathing room and forced him to exchange off the ropes. After lnading a few hard left hooks in the first, the fight almost ended in the second with a counter left that floored N’Dam. He survived the round and gained a measure of respect by landing solid right counters in the third to slow Lemiuex’s aggression.
By the middle rounds, the fight’s narrative was firmly established. At ring center, N’Dam had enough room to fire his own power shots and evade Lemieux’s bombs with movement. When Lemieux got his foe pinned on the ropes, the left hook proved to be the fight’s most lethal weapon. It put N’Dam down twice in the fifth, and again in the seventh.
Fatigue became a factor in the late rounds, allowing N’Dam to have success countering Lemieux’s slowed output. But the four knockdowns kept Lemieux far in front, and N’Dam’s lack of one-punch power prevented any miraculous comeback.
THERE IS ANOTHER SLUGFEST YOU WANT: Lemiuex is the IBF champ. The lineal and WBC title-holder, Miguel Cotto, will be facing Canelo Alvarez in September. WBO titlist Andy Lee is taking on Billy Joe Saunders in September. But there is one other champion, the WBA’s Gennady Golovkin, whose calender is free.
Golovkin has KO’d his last 20 opponents and Lemieux would clearly be the biggest puncher he’s faced in years (possibly ever). Not to mention, Lemieux holds a belt and fits right in with GGG’s desire to unify the division.
Golovkin should win, but how he’d handle Lemieux’s inside work, considering how he appeared bothered by Willie Monroe’s body shots, is intriguing. We know GGG’s camp will jump at it. Is Golden Boy willing to throw their new champ in with the middleweight monster?
Filed under: Fight Reports
