Lemieux vs. Stevens - Don't expect dancing

It’s Quebec’s David Lemieux vs. New York’s Curtis “The Cerebral Assassin” Stevens, Saturday, March 11 in New York on HBO Boxing After Dark, live from Turning Stone Resort, Verona New York.

Background: Two of the better middleweights – yet a long way from the top, square off in what should be a true back and forth slugfest – with a little science thrown in for good measure. I’d say the ratio will be 80/20 in favor of slugging.

Lemieux and Stevens both suffered TKO loses to GGG and to these eyes, Stevens looked better vs. the Kazakh than did Lemieux. It’s strange to measure fighters worth based on a common victor – but there you have it. Both showed huge guts in hanging in there vs. Golovkin’s ‘Truth-O-Meter.’ Both played good defense against the 3-G monster, both had some success with return fire – especially Stevens – but for all that, both ended their evenings prematurely with horrendous wounds and the knowledge of just how far the distance from top contender and “The Top.”

Scorecards: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

Lemieux: C+ B, B B, B B, B- (Average of all) B-

Stevens B, B C+, B, C, C+ C+ (Average of all) C+

Reality Check: Neither has had great opposition; Steven’s opponents in particular are particularly poor – excepting Golovkin. WHY?

Is that that his all-round athleticism was too risky for other rising boxers, circa 2004? Was he or management content with mediocre opponents? The murk of the sinister side of boxing envelopes Stevens like a shroud. Turns out it was management and promotional issues that forced Curtis out of boxing for 2 years of his prime – against his will. Newsflash! Lemieux was embroiled in a multi-million dollar lawsuit with his management not long ago.

Again - boxing eats its own.

Both are more brawler than boxer (though both can box and play defense) and the time is always ‘NOW.’ Brawlers have a short shelf-life.