After David Lemieux had received the IBF model of the middleweight world title with a formidable battering of Hassan N’Dam in Montreal, a Lemieux vs Golovkin combat turned one of many extra fascinating matches to be made in a middleweight division the place many of the elite fighters had proven zero curiosity in dealing with the power-punching Kazakh. Nevertheless, few thought the combat would occur any time quickly; certainly it made extra sense for Lemieux to first money in and make some critical coin with a few protected title defenses. Refreshingly, Lemieux and his brain-trust determined in any other case. With Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins cheering him on, Lemieux stepped up and the ensuing buzz for Golovkin vs Lemieux was intense. Anticipating an exhilarating, Hagler vs Hearns kind shootout between two large punchers, combat followers sold-out Madison Sq. Backyard and regarded ahead to some thrilling motion in a 12 months when essentially the most excessive profile match-ups provided valuable little.
However as a substitute of a hellacious shoot-out, nonetheless, we bought a methodical beatdown. Lemieux had his moments and did land some good photographs, however such moments had been few and much between and the photographs had little to no impact on Golovkin. The hole in talent between the 2 males proved decisive; Golovkin has far better expertise, each newbie {and professional}, and it confirmed proper from the opening bell because the Kazakh imposed his will behind a tough left jab and his ordinary glorious foot work. Lemieux had no reply to the jab, which proved extremely correct, and he merely couldn’t discover his vary or rhythm. Golovkin set the phrases and maintained management for nearly the whole match whereas Lemieux struggled to determine any type of efficient assault.
Energy alone was Lemieux’s solely hope, however when he did land stable photographs the blows appeared to have little impact and solely earned him extra punishment in return. A vicious left hook to the liver in spherical 5 compelled Lemieux to take a knee and when he went down Golovkin clocked him with a proper hand. A degree deduction would have been solely acceptable however the referee settled for a warning. Credit score to Lemieux for not instantly pitching to his face and forcing the referee’s hand; many fighters in the identical scenario would have carried out so.
Spherical six noticed Lemieux’s handiest work although he nonetheless misplaced the spherical. He landed some good photographs to each physique and head however Golovkin took them after which got here proper again together with his personal punches. In spherical seven the match turned decidedly one-sided and referee Steve Willis appeared more and more involved for Lemieux’s welfare. When one other onerous left hook to the liver virtually knocked Lemieux down in spherical eight, the referee stepped in and declared Golovkin the winner.
Whereas the result was clearly tremendously disappointing for Lemieux and his workforce, all needed to tip their hat and provides large props to David for taking the match. It can’t be mentioned too usually in twenty first century pugilism: most boxers in his place would have opted for some simple paydays as a substitute of taking the large threat and dealing with essentially the most harmful opposition out there. The game wants extra boxers with Lemieux’s braveness and want to compete.
That mentioned, the one-sided nature of the competition left Lemieux with little by way of large fights and massive cash to stay up for. There was zero curiosity in a rematch, although Lemieux, clearly sad with the stoppage, let or not it’s identified he needed one. As a substitute it appeared possible the Montrealer must bide his time with a combat or two in opposition to a few of Golovkin’s leftovers. Victories over Glen Tapia, Curtis Stevens, and Marcos Reyes did result in a shot at Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO title belt however that proved to be a moderately humiliating and one-sided defeat, with some scoring it a shut-out for the person from Hertfordshire.
In the meantime Golovkin needed to wait virtually two years earlier than his division rival, Canelo Alvarez, lastly labored up the nerve to face him. The end result was a transparent win for Gennady that was someway scored a draw, however everyone knows that aspect of the story and what adopted. The underside line is that Lemieux demonstrated extra nerve and confidence than so many others within the middleweight division who as a substitute shamelessly swerved the Kazakh destroyer. Typically in boxing, you may be too good on your personal good. Such was the case for Gennady Golovkin, but it surely shouldn’t be held in opposition to him. He deserves to be thought to be a twenty first century nice, one who may have held his personal in opposition to nearly any middleweight or tremendous middleweight in boxing historical past. — Robert Portis
