Review by AllTheBestFights.com: 2015-06-20, very nice fight thanks to a great performance by both boxers and four knockdowns: David Lemieux vs Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam is very close to get four stars!.David Lemieux entered this fight with a professional boxing record of 33-2-0 (31 KOs=94%) and he is ranked as the No.9 middleweight in the world (currently the #1 in this division is Gennady Golovkin). He suffered two consecutive defeats in 2011 when he was just 22 years old: against Marco Antonio Rubio (=Rubio vs Lemieux) and Joachim Alcine (=Alcine vs Lemieux), but then he has won eight consecutive bouts beating Fernando Guerrero (=Lemieux vs Guerrero) and Gabriel Rosado in 2014 (=Lemieux vs Rosado).
His opponent, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, has an official record of 31-1-0 (18 knockouts) and he entered as the No.10 in the same weight class. He won the interim Wbo Mw belt in 2012 against Max Bursak (=N’Dam vs Bursak) but then he lost it to the undefeated Peter Quillin (=N’Dam vs Quillin); after that bout he has won four consecutive fights beating Curtis Stevens in his last one (=Stevens vs N’Dam). Lemieux vs N’Dam is valid for the vacant IBF World middleweight title. Watch the video and rate this fight!
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Date: 2015-06-20
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
Division: middleweight (160 lbs, 72.6 kg)
Title: vacant IBF World middleweight title
Lemieux’s previous fight: David Lemieux vs Gabriel Rosado
N’Dam’s previous fight: Curtis Stevens vs Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam
Lemieux’s next fight: Gennady Golovkin vs David Lemieux
N’Dam’s next fight: Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam vs Patrick Mendy
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Video: (Free embeddable video hosted on Youtube and not uploaded by AllTheBestFights, to report it please visit this link where the video is hosted)
Very good fight! Even though Lemieux was able to score numerous times with his left hook, N’Dam showed tremendous courage and remained dangerous in the later rounds with a few right hooks of his own. Lemieux’s defense has improved a lot through the years (though it’s still far from perfect) and he is now a more complete fighter than when he fought Rubio, but still… he needs to stay focus all fight long and to use his jab more often I think if he wants to stay on top.
I feel so proud for my hometown boy! I’ve been to a few of his early fights in different places in Montreal, he’s always been very spectacular and the fans here loves him very much.
Well said, Olivier. My Fight of the Year.
I was very impressed by both fighters. N’Dam lacked the power (and was forced to defend too much) to hurt Lemieux, but he made it exciting and competitive.
Your Montreal homeboy has fire in those gloves and a killer instinct to rival that of Golovkin. Who do you think he should fight next, and how will he match up against the top five?
“Who is willing to fight Lemieux?” is another interesting question. Almost every punches he throws can KO most middleweights! And even though the French-Canadian may be flawed and lacking experience at this level, he represents a serious risk.
I read that Golden Boy wants a fight against GGG in the nearest future. That would be an awesome fight (in Montreal, please!!) but I see that happening maybe somewhere in early 2016. Until then, he could make an optional title defense against any top15 fighter. So if we keep in mind that Lemieux is going to fight GGG in two fights, the best “preparation” for him would be a powerpuncher with a high KO%. But looking at the IBF 160lbs ratings, I don’t see anyone with a KO% over 60%.
Arjay Cee: “How will he match up vs the top5 ?”, that is an excellent question! At 26 years old, Lemieux is still unexperienced and match up against a veteran like Cotto would be premature at this moment. But I would love to see him fight Quillin or Lee, ’cause I believe he has reached this level.
GGG is a big big ask. I wonder if they should take that fight so soon. Of course it’s ‘fast bucks’, but building up the fight for a year or two would maybe be better than a defeat right away at the hands of GGG for Lemieux. Quillin and Lee are good propositions, Olivier. I bet they won’t pit him against Canelo because both are promoted by Golden Boy :(
All true! But if you look at things from GGG’s perspective, the IBF-belt is at reach and may look easy to take. I didn’t mention Alvarez, like many did, because he never fought at 160lbs.
Lemieux has a name now. He brings what the fans crave: high spirited determination and punching power. He’s good looking and can speak english. He may loses his belt in two fights against GGG but he will still get televised fights after that. At 26, he’s there to stay.
I like Lemieux in the Quillin and Lee matchups. Lee has a test against Billy Joe Saunders coming up, which should say much about what’s left in his tank. Quillin’s work rate probably isn’t enough to keep Lemieux off him!
Congratulations!!!
You have a really good and exciting hometown boxer. I would like to see him fighting GGG soon.
Thanks!
I’m quebecer too :P
Yep! But you live in Quebec City :P
best city in the world! Boxing will soon come to our new giant smoke detector errr I mean arena! :P
One of Amazing Lemieux fight !
Good showing
Though I wouldn’t bet money on Lemieux – I would like to see him face GGG. Couldn’t be anything other than action packed.
But we will have to wait and see what GB does with him.
Very good fight and a nice win for Lemieux since N’Dam is a good boxer with sound techniques. However, it was a lack of body work from Lemieux that allowed N’Dam to complete the fight with a lot of motion. If Lemieux punched the body a little bit more this fight would be a winning by knock out with no doubts.
I agree with you Tango. In Lemieux’s corner, coach Ramsay repeated constantly: “Jab to the head, then right hook to the body and finish with the left hook to the head”. I thought the “opening jab” is what was missing the most.
Wow!!! This was mighty impressive. ATBF, I like you a lot guys, but 3 stars??? This is a very bad call. I know the video quality is awful and maybe that influenced you guys, but come on! I rated it 5 stars
Anyway, the energy levels of the fighters didn’t drop as the rounds progressed, Lemieux has made a good improvement on his defense and NDan is just a warrior, getting back up from 4 BRUTAL knockdowns! Those were not only ‘putting a knee down’ knockdowns! I had it 116-109 Lemieux
Totally agree with you Matt!
Reading the fight’s description “very nice fight thanks to a great performance by both boxers and four knockdowns” seems like a 4-stars fight at least!
But watching the actual fight… DAMN! That was intense! 5-stars! :P
From the opening bell to the last round. The description ‘nice fight’ sounds so ridiculous after you’ve seen it lol. I was impressed by NDam very fast movement, but Lemieux unleashed bombs round after round. Very impressed with both guys. Lemieux is a treasure for us Quebecers, whatever he does next is very intriguing. I would not recommend GGG just yet though. Canelo would be great !
WOOO lemieux quelle belle victoire. Tu le mérite bien lâche pas .un autre champions aux Québec pas ci pire que ça la boxe aux Québec
C’est clair! Le monde sont chialeux des fois :) Ca va etre intéressant de voir Lemieux contre les meilleurs.
BTW the video doesn’t work anymore