LEMIEUX STOPS STEVENS COLD! Gamboa lowers his stock on HBO

LEMIEUX STOPS STEVENS COLD! Gamboa lowers his stock on HBO

LEMIEUX STOPS STEVENS COLD! Gamboa lowers his stock on HBO

By: Daxx Khan – March 12, 2017
Saturday night at the Turning Stone Casino, former IBF middleweight title holder David Lemieux took on former world title challenger Curtis Stevens in the headliner of an HBO broadcast. This was an important fight for both men, for Stevens it would decide if he stays a relevant name or becomes an “Opponent” caliber fighter. The career of Stevens has always been a rough road, whenever he has momentum, he falls short in that step-up fight which could bring his career to the next level. While Stevens gives it his all in every fight, when he loses, he loses big. In the case of Lemieux, he was dominated by Gennady Golovkin to such an extent, fans have almost forgotten he is a former world champion, capable of stepping in with just about anyone from 160-168lbs in boxing today.
In the first round, Lemieux hurt Stevens early keeping him on the backfoot. In the second Lemieux slowed a bit, Stevens landed some hard shots of his own and seemed to hurt Lemieux to the body towards rounds end.
When back in the corners, Lemieux’s trainer Marc Ramsey stated “Relax and wait for the opening”, he did just that and stopped Curtis Stevens cold at 1:59 of the third round. It was the best KO of the last year without question in my opinion. They would take Curtis Stevens out of the ring by stretcher and to a local hospital.
In his post-fight interview, David Lemieux was polite, wished Stevens well and stated he would like to fight Billy Joe Saunders next if possible. Unlike Yuriorkis Gamboa, David Lemieux is without question still a relevant fighter in his division, in fact outside of Gennady Golovkin and Danny Jacobs he might be the best middleweight in boxing today.

The co-feature between former two division champion Yuriorkis Gamboa and rugged Nicaraguan Rene Alvarado had a similar scenario, at least for Gamboa. A once “Pound for Pound” prospect, Gamboa has looked ordinary at best since being stopped by Terence Crawford in 2014. The fact, he has faced B level opponents, struggling against one, Hylon Williams Jr in the same venue just over a year ago, has done nothing to help erase a growing “Over rated” stigma that has become attached since loss against Crawford.
It was questionable on how Gamboa, would perform even before the fight began, rehydrating 14lbs in 24 hours. He weighed officially 131lbs yet entered at 145lbs virtually a welterweight. His performance showed it, he looked mediocre, his pace was slow, he threw single punches and was dropped in the final round for an eight count. As for Rene Alvarado, he was fighting a welterweight and gave his best. In the end judges seen it 97-93 and 97-92 twice for Yuriorkis Gamboa who improved to 26-1 (17). In the loss, Rene Alvarado now stands at 24-8 (16).
In my opinion it’s safe to say Yuriorkis Gamboa is done as a top-rated fighter, he will continue to be in these type bouts, doing just enough to get by. Contrary to what the HBO announce team said he will not drop down in weight and be a threat to Vasyl Lomachenko.

In Undercard action-
Super Lightweight- Yves Ulysse Jr 12-0 (8)     Zachary Ochoa 16-0 (7)
vacant NABF Junior super lightweight title
Featherweight- Diego De La Hoya 17-0 (9) def. Roberto Pucheta 10-10-1 (6) UD 8.
Super Middleweight- D’Mitrius Ballard 16-0 (12) def. Zoltan Sera 28-12(19) via TKO 4.
Light Heavyweight- Todd Unthank May 10-0-1 (4) draw. Quinton Rankin 12-3-2 (9) D6.
Lightweight- Damon Allen 11-0-1 (5) def. Adam Mate 24-11 (17) via TKO 2.
Super Welterweight- Alex Rincon 1-0 (1) def. Shaun Lee Henson 2-4 (2) via TKO 2.

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