DAVID LEMIEUX is targeting a showdown with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez following his move to Golden Boy Promotions. The middleweight Canadian slugger impressed in his most recent outing – a barnstorming win over perennial contender Gabriel Rosado – last year, and is now targeting the likes of Alvarez in bumper middleweight showdowns.
“I have put in the work,” Lemiuex, 33-2 (31), said about his move to Golden Boy. “What you saw in Brooklyn [against Rosado] was only 50 percent of what I can do and I feel like I can be a lot better. I want to show that in my next fight.
“I fear no man, I want to go after the top of the food chain. Oscar [De La Hoya] and Bernard [Hopkins] came up fighting the best and I am of the same mind.
Alvarez is Lemieux’s first target but the heavy-handed banger is willing to fight anyone to prove he is the best 160-pounder out there.
“Canelo is a younger, hungrier fighter. He is explosive. He is a tough fighter and it would be a good match up. Everyone is on the list. I want to fight the best.”
Lemieux has been fighting for most of his life and credits boxing for turning his life around.
“The reason I started so young was because I was a trouble maker. I was fighting in the streets. My neighbor was a boxer and he told me to come fight real fighters. I got my ass kicked a few times but I fell in love with it.”
“I have always liked power punchers and I respect others’ styles and other champions, but I never mimic them.”
Head of Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya said: “We are exploring every option. We can go to Montreal, we can go back to New York City, we can come to Las Vegas; that’s the beauty of David. He can fight anywhere and people will come out to watch him.
“He’s still growing. We haven’t seen his full potential which is very exciting. He has explosiveness and power.
“We will be working hand and hand with Eye of the Tiger Management. We are partners and we want the best fights, the best deals. We will be working together in the best interest for David.
“A future fight with Canelo is possible. Canelo wants to fight the best. Lemieux wants to fight the best. For now we want to focus on 160-pounds weight class and on Cotto, Andy Lee and [Gennady] Golovkin.”
Golden Boy Promotions Partner Bernard Hopkins added: “We got this guy [Lemieux], he is tough. I know Gabriel Rosado and he handled him easily. I know what I am looking at. I have an eye for talent and he has it.
“We are going to continue and show you that we will put on the best fights and give the fans quality. I’m in it to make the best fights. The ratings speak for themselves. The fans speak for themselves. Judge us by the quality of the matches you see and don’t get caught up in the ‘feelings’ of it.
“I want to put a call out to everyone, that is how Oscar was brought up, that is how I was brought up, fighting the best.
“Three things about David: one, he signed with Golden Boy Promotions; two, he has talent in many ways, not only is he a fan favorite he is a good defensive fighter; three, he has good looks.
“I am seeing now the molding of another legacy, his legacy. But at the end of the day he has an opportunity in the middleweight division, I am glad to be here with a middleweight who I feel already has a lot of respect.”
Golovkin prepares for ‘toughest fight’
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