Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime
Middleweight contender Fernando Guerrero (26-2, 19 KOs) is set to face David Lemieux (31-2, 29 KOs) on the undercard of the Light Heavyweight title-fight between Adonis Stevenson and Andrzej Fonfara. The card will be presented by Showtime Sports and will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Guerrero, who is coming off a tough ten-round victory over Raymond Gatica, is confident about the prospect of fighting an exciting, but dangerous opponent.
“That is one of the fights that I need to get in those rankings again,” Guerrero told Round By Round Boxing shortly before the deal was signed.
Indeed, after a seventh round loss to Peter Quillin last April and a tough win over Gatica in November, Guerrero will need to win spectacularly if he wants to be considered for a title shot in the near future.
It will be an equally important fight for Lemieux, who has suffered an equal number of losses in his career, but might be pushed in consideration for a title shot after six consecutive wins by way of knockout.
In a recent ESPN article, Dan Rafael suggests that Lemieux’s debut on Showtime is a sign that he might be in the running for a title shot against Quillin in the future.
“By making his Showtime debut next month,” Rafael states, “Lemieux, who has won six fights in a row against middling opposition, obviously becomes a potential opponent.”
Guerrero, on the other hand, has other plans. After revamping his team following his loss to Quillin, Guerrero feels confident about his upcoming fight.
Guerrero is now trained by Jose and Nacho Saucedo from the Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California. Guerrero has switched trainers before in his career, his previous one being Virgil Hunter.
This time, Guerrero believes, things are different. “They’re as hungry as I am,” said Guerrero. “They do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
The specifics of the fight, regarding the weight or the purse, have yet to be revealed, but both fighters have the potential to make for an exciting match up.
Guerrero touts his amateur experience–with over 140 bouts–and argues that his opposition as a professional has been more impressive. Nevertheless, he knows his fight with Lemieux will be tough.
“He has a lot of knockouts,” Guerrero said, “and when you have a record like that you got to respect that record.”
“When you have a power puncher against a power puncher,” concluded Guerrero, “someone is going to go out. But the one with the most experience will always prevail.”
