David Lemieux, who has moved from middleweight to super middleweight, will face David Benavidez on May 21 for a world title. At the point where he is in his career, he has no room for error.
It was exactly for this kind of occasion that Lemieux moved from middleweight to super middleweight. At age 33, Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) will participate in his fourth world title fight.
I don’t see it as the last opportunity of my career, he said at a videoconference on Tuesday. There is always a fight if you are ready. But this is a big opportunity. Obviously at my age and at the stage in my career, I don’t want to miss it my shot. I feel this is an important battle.
Lemieux and Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) were respectively ranked No. 2 and No. 1 contenders for the World Boxing Council title held by Saul Canelo Alvarez, who is looking for a light heavyweight side for his next fight.
The WBC doesn’t want to isolate the profitable Mexican, so this is the temporary belt the two pugilists will get on May 21, at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Benavidez’s stronghold.
It was a huge battle, important for my career, Lemieux added. This is a golden opportunity. A victory against him would put me where I want to be among the world’s elite.
Benavidez, 25, wants to add to his resume by beating the former world champion at middleweight. Lemieux knew we wanted to use him as a springboard.
I didn’t hesitate for any fight, for any opponent, he underlined. When I had the opportunity to face the best (middleweights), I always accepted, I never said no. So here I am lined up to face David Benavidez on May 21.
The task does not seem easy. Benavidez is younger than Lemieux. He just passed the K.-O. in his last five opponents and he is a boxer with many punches per round. But Benavidez was wary of Quebecer, and said he had great respect for him.
I have a lot of respect for David Lemieux, because he didn’t hesitate to accept this fight, unlike the others.he said.
Hard work, but impossible?
Quebecer has a mix starting at 168 pounds. He first scored a controversial split win against Maksym Bursak.
The pandemic has complicated his task and he faces two opponents, Francy Ntetu and David Zegarra, who are not exactly part of the world’s elite. Lemieux knew there was only one way to prove he had what it took to beat the best.
You have to beat a world elite boxer, Lemieux says. That’s my plan for May 21. David Benavidez is one of the great boxers right now, but he hasn’t fought the elites yet. He wanted it to happen, but I was here to end his hope.
Disappointing, Benavidez replied, because I believe I deserved those big fights. I have proven myself. It’s a big fight against Lemieux, with a temporary belt in line, but I feel like the big names are avoiding me.
David Lemieux is looking for redemption, David Benavidez wants to make a name for himself. Here are two power boxers with explosive styles. A great poster for boxing fans.
Source: Radio-Canada
