(Glendale) It took courage, yes. But courage alone could not prove everything. David Lemieux was completely downgraded against American David Benavidez on Saturday night in Glendale.
Posted at 1:16 a.m.
Updated at 2:55 a.m.
The crowd favorite won by stoppage at 3and round. Benavidez won the interim WBC super middleweight title. He should now be able to face Saul “Canelo” Álvarez to try to steal his world champion belt in the category. Theoretically.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” commented Lemieux on the arena after the brawl. [Benavidez] is quite a fighter. »
He did not want to speak to the journalists who came to meet him in Arizona.
Stopping the fight was the decision of the coach of the Quebec pugilist, Marc Ramsay. Because after already two rounds of boxing, the outcome was practically no longer in doubt.
“I said, ‘David, I’ll give you a round,'” Ramsay said in a hallway at the Gila River Arena, outside the door where his colt was receiving treatment. “Take that on board, it’s dramatic. This is the round of your life”. »
Things didn’t improve on the third.
“Your number one role as a boxing coach is to protect your guys,” Ramsay said. […] It’s professional boxing that we do. If his health is in danger to go for a victory, I can’t go any further in this. It’s that simple. »
Ramsay’s interlocution, alongside Eye of the Tiger Management promoter Camille Estephan, was serene. The two men speak in a sober, calm tone. Despite the tough loss, they say they are “proud” of what Lemieux accomplished on Saturday night.
“Honestly, in my opinion, he faced the best in the world at 168 pounds,” said Estephan. I even think that if he goes up to 175, he would beat almost everyone. There is no need to be embarrassed by the defeat. »
“It’s the way, explains the promoter. He got really hurt. Most would have given up. But even caused him danger. Although he didn’t have his full strength. He fired back. »
Lemieux (43-5, 36 K.-O) a entamé le duel en trombe. C’était un prérequis pour tenter de mettre un doute dans la tête de Benavidez (26-0, 22 K.-O.), toujours invaincu. Mais le natif de Phoenix a rapidement répondu en touchant la cible à quelques reprises. Si bien que les jambes de Lemieux flanchaient vers la fin de l’engagement initial.
« [Benavidez] started the fight with great respect for David, Ramsay commented, noting a recurring theme from the week leading up to the clash. I saw it in his eyes. »
“And at the limit, I liked the start of the first round [pour Lemieux]. I loved how small David was, below the punches. Short distance. Until he got hurt. Everything went there. »
The Quebecer went to the mat in the second. He also started bleeding from his face after a cut to his left eye. He showed courage by getting up and continuing. The new father of a third child persisted in throwing punches, but his strikes did no damage.
On the other side, Benavidez’s attacks, quick as those of a scorpion, surprised and rattled Lemieux.
David and Goliath
“We try great theories of analysis, jokes the coach of Lemieux. But we faced a boxer who, tonight, was much better than us. A division superstar. »
Ramsay and Estephan continue to praise Benavidez. And the “heart from afar” of their fighter.
“He is better than Gennady Golovkin was when we faced him, analyzes Ramsay. I’m not sure Canelo would make it through. He is a complete boxer, fast, he hits hard, he is able to take a punch, he has a good defense, he has guts. It’s a package deal. »
But therefore, did you have eyes bigger than your stomach by opposing David Lemieux to such a Goliath?
“That’s what we do boxing for,” he replies. We box to move up the rankings. To reach world championship fights like we did tonight. Compete against the best. That is the goal of boxing, there is no other. We are not here to stand still and make false careers. »
“We can’t blame David Lemieux for trying. »
Estephan joins him there.
“He showed a lot of heart. The people from Showtime came up to me and said, “Listen, your guy is crazy.” »
“I am disappointed, adds Camille Estephan. I’m sad he lost. But I’m proud of him. »
Semi-finals under the whistles
PHOTO ESTHER LIN, PROVIDED BY SHOWTIME
Jonathan Fierro vs. Luis Núñez
We entered what is now the former home of the Coyotes as the blazing, hot, dry sun still shone over Glendale. Inside, Mexican music was played between rounds. A more rhythmic entertainment than the spectacle offered by the two semi-finals preceding the main fight.
The Dominican Luis Núñez (17-0, 12 K.-O.) won by unanimous decision of the judges, and under the sustained whistles of the crowd, in front of the Mexican Jonathan Fierro (13-1, 12 K.-O. .). The favorite of the supporters thus suffered his first defeat.
PHOTO ESTHER LIN, PROVIDED BY SHOWTIME
Yoelvis Gomez and Jorge Cota
Right after, the Cuban Yoelvis Gómez (6-0, 5 K.-O.) dominated the Mexican Jorge Cota (30-6, 27 K.-O.) and won by unanimous decision.