Lemieux: Abel Sanchez, GGG's Team Underestimating Me
Oct 9, 2015 • 1:35 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
It's understandable why most fans predict a shootout between Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux for however long their Oct. 17 unification bout lasts. The pair of middleweight titlists boast exceedingly high knockout-to-win percentages and are generally regarded as the two biggest punchers in the middleweight division.
The way the fighters tell it, though, it won't come down to who lands first but who reacts best to the other's power game during their Pay-Per-View headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Golovkin (33-0, 30KOs) has scored knockout wins in each of his past 20 fights, including a perfect 15-0 (15KOs) in fights with at least one belt on the line. Still, the 33-year old from Kazakhstan insists there's far more to his game than just laying hands on his opponents until they fall.
It's certainly not the approach he plans to take heading into a unification bout with a fellow puncher.
"We're both the same - (we have) power, defense, same," Golovkin notes before pointing out what he feels separates the two. "I think we’re a different style, different boxing IQ. Yes I think we both have a great punch.
"It’s just not power, it’s a different class of fighters. Timing, speed and discipline is very important."
While ring smarts are a prerequisite to win just about any given fight, Lemieux (34-2, 31KOs) braces for the eventual firefight that will come of the night. With that, he turns to what he believes will give him the upset win.
"The fighter with the biggest heart (will win)," Lemieux insists of their upcoming clash. "It’s not about power in this fight. It’s about character, who can take the biggest punch and keep coming back.
"I think Abel Sanchez (Golovkin's trainer) and the whole team are quite underestimating me. On Oct. 17 I will be ready with all of my skills and boxing technique. I will come in with a well-rounded approach. I’m not just David Lemieux the puncher, I’m David Lemieux the fighter."
The middleweight title unification match will air live on HBO Pay-Per-View, at a suggested retail price of $49.95 (plus $10 for HD subscriptions).
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Facebook Page: JakeBScene
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
