By Jake Donovan
David Lemieux is now a promotional free agent, electing to not renew his previous agreement with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) Promotions.
While a reunion is possible down the road, the middleweight contender will explore other avenues for the immediate future.
“We thank GYM and do not count out the possibility of working together again in the future,” manager Camille Estephan said in a media statement. “However, we wish to keep the door open to explore different opportunities available in order to make the most informed decision about his career in the future.”
Lemieux (33-2, 31KOs) made his stateside—and HBO—debut in December, scoring a 10th round stoppage over a game Gabriel Rosado at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The motivation in HBO getting behind the power puncher from Canada was to raise his appeal as a possible future challenger for network staple, unbeaten middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin.
Such a fight greatly impacted the decision for Lemieux’ team to move him from Showtime to HBO. His current network affiliation could also lead to fights with lineal middleweight king Miguel Cotto and former 154 lb. titlist Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, or the winner of a possible match between the two as both fighters are in negotiations for a potential showdown this spring.
"They have already been approached,” Estephan recently told TVA Sports, regarding the possibility of fighting any of the aforementioned middleweights in 2015. “If negotiations are successful with one of the three boxers—and I'm optimistic it will—we will begin training very soon.
“[It] is also possible that David takes another fight before then. We are looking at all options available to us. We will take the best opportunity for David. All doors are open and HBO is behind him.”
For the moment, the next fight for Lemieux will be in a courtroom in Canada. The 26-year old is due to stand trial on April 10 for charges stemming from a domestic dispute involving his ex-wife and another individual last June.
Lemieux had fought for GYM Promotions since his pro debut in April 2007. The power-punching Montreal native became an instant fan favorite, but hit a pothole on the road to contention after suffering back-to-back losses in 2011. He has since won eight in a row, with all but one ending inside the distance.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
