Hard-hitting Canadian middleweight David Lemieux (32-2, 30 KOs) will be taking a dangerous fight against Gabriel Rosado (21-8, 13 KOs) on HBO Boxing in two months from now on December 6th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Lemieux’s handlers feel he’s ready to take a step up in class against the 28-year-old Rosado, who has lost 3 out of his last 4 fights in the past year.
The 25-year-old Lemieux is ranked #2 WBC, #5 IBF, #8 WBO, and #15 WBA in the middleweight division, and he just needs a solid win to get him into position for a world title shot.
Lemieux shined recently in defeated Fernando Guerrero by a third round knockout five months ago in October. Lemieux blasted Guerrero out before he had time to land more than a handful of shots.
It’s been three years since Lemieux was defeated by Marco Antonio Rubio and Joachim Alcine. Lemieux faded in both of those fights. With Lemieux’s stamina problems reportedly behind him now, he’s won his last seven fights.
It’s likely that Lemieux’s management will push him towards going after the IBF title held by Jermain Taylor, WBA title in the possession of Daniel Jacobs or the WBO belt, which will be fought over by Matt Korobov and Andy Lee. Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto are probably far too dangerous for Lemieux to go after, and it’s not likely that his management will push him in that direction given his inexperience.
Lemieux is one of those type of fighters who is going to have problems if he faces someone who can take his power. That’s why he needs to learn how to box and conserve his energy, because it’s a matter of time before he faces another Rubio type of fighter who can handle his power.
The December 6th undercard will have Junior middleweight James De La Rosa facing Hugo Centeno Jr, and welterweight Frankie Gomez fighting a still to be determined opponent.
“Lemieux is a very exciting fighter and a big puncher,” De La Hoya said to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. “We made a deal with him for this fight. He’s in an exciting weight class and the ultimate prize for anyone at 154 or 160 pounds is to face Canelo Alvarez, and David Lemieux fits into that picture perfectly. The guy comes at you like a Mack truck. We’re going to do some good things with him. He has a great record, amazing power and is a great looking kid.”
Lemieux does hit very hard. With his power, he should be able to get to Rosado early in the same way Golovkin did in taking him out in 7 rounds last year in January. But if Rosado is able to make it to the 9th or 10 rounds, we could see him score a stoppage. Lemieux’s power isn’t the same in the later rounds as it is in the early parts of his fights. Rosado obviously will be looking to take Lemieux into the deeper rounds if possible.