Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Three years ago, David Lemieux (33-2, 31 KOs) was on the rise as one of the most promising Middleweight contenders in recent years.
His combination of reckless speed and dangerous power made him an exciting fighter on the rise, although exhaustion during the later rounds of his most important fights caused him setbacks in his career.
Tonight, after recovering from his losses to Marco Antonio Rubio and Joachim Alcine in 2011, Lemieux put himself back in the spotlight as he dominated iron-chinned Gabriel Rosado en route to a tenth-round stoppage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The fight was the main event of a card presented by Golden Boy Promotions and HBO Boxing.
Lemieux, 25, of Montreal, Canada, took his time to begin his onslaught of Rosado as he used quick jabs and right hands to the body to keep Rosado on his back foot for the opening rounds.
Lemieux was more methodical in his approach as he had already experienced with Rubio the dangers of relying on power and reckless activity too early in a fight.
“I know what Rosado wanted to do. He wanted to take me into deep waters. He thought I was going to gas out in the later rounds,” said Lemieux in his post-fight interview with HBO’s Max Kellerman.
Rosado, 28, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, started off well with a good jab and right hand before being floored by a powerful left hook in round three that immediately caused Rosado’s left eye to swell.
Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Then, like a shark smelling blood in its perimeter, Lemieux began a vicious onslaught that almost put Rosado out, if it weren’t for Rosado’s iron chin and heart that kept him in the fight.
Rosado would continue fighting the next few rounds with virtually one eye, which he believes is what prevented him from outboxing Lemieux.
Nevertheless, Lemieux landed the harder shots going into the final rounds and remained explosive before a grimacing referee and a concerned doctor put an end to the fight.
Rosado may have expected Lemieux to gas out in the later rounds, but it never happened.
“I had said that I’d be prepared for a 12-round fight and be explosive from the 1st round until the 12th round,” said Lemieux, who demonstrated a good adjustment in his style and preparation that allowed him to continue being explosive in the later rounds.
Lemieux looked smarter in the ring, but he did show defensive flaws that may be capitalized by the likes of Gennady Golovkin or Peter Quillin, Middleweights who have knockout power and who could be in his future.
Despite this, Lemieux says he’s ready to fight either of them.
“I’m willing to be world champion so I’m ready to fight anybody,” said Lemieux, before also mentioning Miguel Cotto as a possible opponent.
