(Montreal) Laval boxer David Lemieux is retiring from competition, Eye of the Tiger Management announced on Saturday.
Posted at 9:52
The 33-year-old Lemieux posted a 43-5-0 record, including 36 wins by knockout.
He notably beat Gabriel Rosado brilliantly in December 2014 during a first performance on HBO, obtaining the NABF belt.
In June 2015, he won the IBF world title against Hassan N’Dam at the Bell Center, knocking his rival down four times.
PHOTO CHARLES LABERGE, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
David Lemieux became IBF middleweight world champion on June 16, 2015.
Four months later, at Madison Square Garden, he accepted one of his biggest career challenges when he faced unified world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who prevailed by knockout. technical.
“I accomplished a lot during my career, I achieved my dream of being world champion, I gave the fans exciting fights by accepting all the challenges that were offered to me, mentioned Lemieux, in a press release.
I dedicated my daily life to training, boxing, and now I want to enjoy every moment with my family. I did a lot, but I was not alone.
David Lemieux, in a statement
“I therefore take this opportunity to thank all my supporters who have supported and encouraged me throughout my career,” he adds.
“Thank you to the EOTTM team and especially to Camille [Estephan] and Mark [Ramsay], exceptional men. »
His last fight was a defeat by K.-O. technique on May 21 this year against David Benavidez, in Glendale, Arizona.
The Eye of the Tiger business grew along with Lemieux’s career.
“David is the kind of guy we like because he’s real, and he has a big heart like Quebec,” Estephan, president of the organization, said in a press release.
“He’s a challenge guy as he has shown throughout his career. He has all my respect for what he has achieved, and even more today, to retire at this time, healthy, instead of just clinging to the past. He retires at the right time and I say thank you for everything. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, PRESS ARCHIVES
David Lemieux and Marc Ramsay
Ramsay had been training for several years the one who shone at 160 pounds, and then 168 pounds. “It is with great nostalgia, but also with great pride, that I receive David’s decision to retire,” Ramsay said in a statement.
“I remember the 10-year-old little guy who would train at Russ Anber’s old gymnasium every day with such determination. This same determination that led him a few years later to the top of the boxing world.
“I can say without a shadow of a doubt that David was one of the boxers I enjoyed training the most during my career. We worked so hard, but above all we had so much fun doing it.
“I’m really proud of the journey we’ve made together, proud of the accomplishments, proud of the person he’s become, proud that he’s coming out of boxing healthy and above all proud of the direction he’s taking now with his family. »
Lemieux’s father, André Fernand Lemieux, was one of the victims of a series of three murders in 24 hours in Montreal earlier this month. Lemieux’s father was 64 years old.
1er August, Lemieux and his partner, former Olympic diver Jennifer Abel, shared a photo of their toddler son Xander, who is about three months old, on social media.