GLENDALE, AR | We expected fireworks between David Lemieux and David Benavidez. That’s what we got last night at the Gila River Arena.
However, the backfire came from one side only. Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) won by technical knockout in the third round against David Lemieux (43-5, 36 KOs). The American thus has his hand on the interim WBC super middleweight title with this victory.
From the first round, Benavidez dictated the pace of the fight. He rattled Lemieux in the dying seconds who struggled to retreat to his corner.
The Quebecer tried to open the machine on the second assault, but his blows did not shake the boxer from Phoenix. Subsequently, the latter continued his demolition work to send Lemieux to the floor. He got up, but we felt that the end was coming.
Benavidez continued to have fun with Lemieux until trainer Marc Ramsay called it quits. A wise decision because the former middleweight champion would have needed a miracle to get back in the fight and win.
“It was not my evening. Benavidez was better than me,” said David Lemieux in the ring after the fight.
More details to come…