Stevens: I'm Looking For a KO, I'm Going To Whoop Lemieux's Ass

By Francisco Salazar

It was Oct. 1 of 2014 and Curtis Stevens had lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Hassan N'Dam in Santa Monica, Calif.

For the next several months, Stevens contemplated where his career was going to go, if it was going to somewhere.

After fighting in a 'Big Knockout Boxing' card in 2015, Stevens was compelled to return to the traditional boxing ring, where the calling of winning a world title belt was too strong to ignore.

After back-to-back victories, a victory over former middleweight world titleholder David Lemieux could make that dream come true.

Stevens will face Lemieux in a 12 round bout tonight at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. The fight will headline an HBO 'Boxing After Dark' telecast, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT.

Stevens (29-5, 21 KOs) last fought on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas, dropping James De La Cruz before winning a unanimous decision over 10 rounds. Stevens hurt his right hand early in the fight, which may explain why he almost relied solely on his left hand during the second half of the fight.

"My hand is 100 percent now," Stevens told Boxingscene.com on Wednesday. "No problems."

Stevens has a tall order when he steps inside the ring tonight against Lemieux, who will be the stronger and taller fighter between the two.

Both fighters have sparred and jabbed one on another on social media leading up to the fight. Both are bonafide punchers so the fight has created a buzz amongst boxing fans who believe the fight will not go the distance.

Stevens believes he has gotten into Lemieux's head.

"Lemieux talks a lot of (expletive)," said Stevens, who is promoted by Main Events. "On social media, he talks a lot. At the press conference (in January), he didn't say a whole lot to me. He has nothing to say to me. But he talks a lot on Twitter. I don't understand that. If you're going to say something or not, at least be consistent."

"Just like any fighter wants, I look for the knockout. I'm going to whoop his ass. It's going to be kudos for me for doing my job in the ring."

Stevens and Lemieux have one fighter in common they have faced and that is Gennady Golovkin. Ironically, Golovkin ended matters in the eighth round against both fighters (Stevens did not answer the bell for round nine) and both fights took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Fighting under the bright lights at the World's Most Famous Arena or on a premium network is a long way from the tough streets of Brownsville section of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Stevens believes the tough upbringing gives him an edge.

"It's something else if you could make it to age 21 if you grow up in Brownsville. Growing up there gave me the mentality to never give up. It's easy to give up and it's harder to come back from setbacks, especially in the ring."

"I just press forward. I have to. It's God's will for me to win a world title belt. I can't give up now considering I'm this close."

A win tonight would put Stevens in a position where he could face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez or even Miguel Cotto.

While Stevens is also eye the winner between the Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs fight, a Jacobs win could make for an all-Brooklyn showdown.

First things first, he has to take care of business with Lemieux tonight.

"This is a good fight for Lemieux and for boxing fans (tonight). It's God's will for me to win, but I know I'm going to win. There's no other outcome that that."

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