Photo by OOTTM
Since losing his WBO title against Peter Quillin in 2012, Hassan N’Dam (31-1, 18 KOs) has fought to regain a world title.
He fought in Spain, he fought in Ireland, and even fought two times at an airport in Santa Monica, California, where the Barker Hangar had been changed to a place to hold boxing fights and other events.
In his second fight there, N’Dam fought a previous title-challenger in Curtis Stevens, who had been known for his knockout power, but who had also been stopped by the best Middleweight in the world, Gennady Golovkin.
Nevertheless, in a fight in which many expected him to have trouble with Stevens’ power, N’Dam was hardly touched as he outboxed Stevens for the entire fight.
N’Dam feinted, threw jabs from his hips and landed combination punches that made Stevens gunshy throughout the entire fight.
And with that, N’Dam had regained a shot at a world title.
Today, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, N’Dam will take on David Lemieux (33-2, 21 KOs) for the vacant IBF crown in a fight that will be televised at 10:OOpm ET on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Deportes in the U.S.
“This is what I say to David Lemieux, you can study me, but you don’t know what I am bringing to the ring,” said N’Dam at their final press conference this past Thursday.
“You might get Muhammud Ali in the first round, Sugar Ray Leonard in the second, Floyd Mayweather in the third, but when you get N’Dam, he will be the hardest boxer you have ever faced,” N’Dam continued.
N’Dam indeed has a lot in his arsenal: he has exceptional footwork, a good jab, and knows how to avoid shots.
Nevertheless, he was still knocked down six times against Quillin, which makes one wonder how well he can take a punch.
He may have exceptional boxing skills, but even Floyd Mayweather gets hit with a clean shot here and there. What will happen when he gets hit by Lemieux?
If successful, however, N’Dam will be a two-time world champion, and will join a list of fellow Middleweight titleholders that includes Miguel Cotto, Gennady Golovkin and Andy Lee.
How do you think N’Dam will fare? Let us know in the comment section below.
