Lemieux vs. Stevens: Promoters Expect High Drama, Fireworks

By Francisco Salazar

They will promote their guy to the end, but there is one thing Main Events' Kathy Duva and Golden Boy Promotions' Eric Gomez have in common: the David Lemieux-Curtis Stevens fight is a can't miss fight that is going to thrill boxing fans.

Lemieux and Stevens will square off Saturday night at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. The 12 round bout will headline an HBO 'Boxing After Dark' broadcast, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT.

The matchup features two middleweight contenders who are bonafide punchers. The consensus amongst the boxing community is the fight will not go the distance.

There are those in the minority that do believe the fight should not headline an HBO broadcast.

Duva, who promotes Stevens, is not deterred by those critics. She believes the fight is perfect for what the 'Boxing After Dark' brand is all about.

"I remember those skeptics were saying the same thing before Arturo Gatti (who was promoted by Main Events) when he faced Micky Ward and look what happened in the first fight," Duva told Boxingscene.com. "I'm not saying we're going to get a trilogy with the Stevens-Lemieux fight, but this is a fight that boxing fans have a strong interest in."

"Obviously Curtis is in a tough fight against David. This is not an easy fight, but we believe in Curtis. He wanted the fight because he knows he can win. Plus he understands fans want to see these types of fights. It's a win-win."

Gomez, who is the president of Golden Boy Promotions, agrees.

"This fight is made for HBO," Gomez told Boxingscene.com. "Lemieux and Stevens are those guys that want the knockout. Either fighter can win by knockout."

"I remember there was a lot of criticism of the Gatti-Ward fight. That Ward should not have been on HBO because he had too many losses (Ward entered the first Gatti fight with 11 losses on his record). Low and behold, look what happened in that first fight. It's the same thing with this fight between David and Curtis. These are two of the top guys in the division. The winner is in a position to fight the big guys in the division."

Duva and Gomez may say what they have to say to sell the fight, but there is truth to their assessment of Lemieux-Stevens. Both of them are punchers and there is a strong dislike towards one another, which adds more fuel to the fight.

Whereas one punch could alter the course of the fight, it is safe to say: Don't blink.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing