Team Lemieux: This is The Last Time We're The Underdog

By Jake Donovan

Given the odds and the perceived outcome, perhaps the theme for Saturday’s HBO Pay-Per-View theme should have been “David and Gol(ovkin)iath.”

No matter the confidence he continues to exude, recently crowned middleweight titlist David Lemieux is viewed as a major longshot versus unbeaten Gennady Golovkin. The pair of middleweight knockout artist collide this weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Lemieux (34-2, 31KOS) comes in having won nine straight, but none coming against any middleweight like the beast he will face on Saturday. There has been no rebuilding tour for Golovkin (33-0, 30KOs), who remains perfect in the pro ranks, and has racked up 14 defenses of at least one middleweight belt, a run that overlaps his current 20-fight knockout streak.

Given the lofty credentials of the unbeaten knockout artist from Kazakhstan, it makes sense that Lemieux – an equally hard hitter from Montreal – plays the underdog for the first time in his career.

The way his team views it, there has to be a first time for everything – though with the hope that it results in a lesson learned for those who didn’t believe in the charismatic 28-year old boxer.

“This will be the last time we're the underdog,” insisted manager Camille Estephan during an interview with host Jessica Rosales during Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference in New York City. “People will know better next time.”

The bout marks the first title unification match in the middleweight division since Bernard Hopkins and Oscar de la Hoya put four belts on the line in their Sept. ’04 clash in Las Vegas. Hopkins won by 9th round knockout, but both fighters went on to form a business relationship in de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions company and play an active role today in Lemieux’s career as his promoter.

Hopkins was a logical favorite to beat de la Hoya, who looked horrible in his previous middleweight venture and was always a fish out of water at the weight. However, the division’s all-time record holder for most consecutive successful defenses and longest reign was viewed as the underdog heading into another unification bout, his dismantling of then-unbeaten Felix Trinidad more than 14 years ago in this very arena.

In that vein, Lemieux and his team worry less about what is in front of them, instead focusing more on how David can slay the middleweight Goliath.

“We are focused on what David Lemieux can bring to the ring,” notes Marc Ramsay, Lemieux’s head trainer since 2012, with the middleweight since going 9-0. “Some people they overanalyze what the opponent is going to do. For us, we only concern ourselves with what David will do in the ring.”

Added Estephan: “I believe both guys are excellent athletes, great power, etc. I believe it will come down to heart and in that area I believe we have the edge.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Facebook Page: JakeBScene