Tonight in Montreal, Canada, David Lemieux scored a Unanimous Decision over Hassan N’Dam. Official scorecards came in at 115-109 (twice) and 114-110. BoxingBase.com had it much wider at 117-107.
The wide scores tell of Lemieux’s dominance, but don’t remark on the marvel that is N’Dam. If there’s something superhuman about Lemieux’s power, then there’s certainly something superhuman about N’Dam’s recovery powers.
N’Dam, 31, was knocked down a staggering four times in this fight, all from Lemieux’s money-maker: the left-hook. Lemieux hit the deck hard in rounds 2, 5 (twice), and 7. Despite these major setbacks, he came back every time to box and remain well in the fight, asking a few questions of his monster puncher foe.
As for Lemieux, he looked ferocious, dangerous, and in phenomenal shape. He was the stalking, ring-cutting nightmare many analysts expected him to be. And boy did he deliver. His boxing skills are perhaps a little shy of fellow Middleweight Gennady Golovkin‘s, but he still has impressive patience and picks his shots well.
Lemieux, 26, now picks up the IBF Middleweight strap. Golden Boy Promotions’ Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins had huge smiles on their faces throughout the bout, and it’s no wonder why. Lemieux could well be another cash cow in the Golden Boy stable.
Lemieux now extends to 34-2, 31 knockouts, while N’Dam drops to 31-2, 18 knockouts.
Lemieux vs N’dam: Round by Round
Round 1: Lemieux comes out firing jabs immediately. Throws two heavy grazing hooks. N’Dam jabbing, circling. Right-hand from N’Dam. Lemieux coming forward, looking to land big. N’Dam firing back against aggressive Lemieux who is loading up on front foot. Lemieux trying to cut off the ring here. N’Dam holding his own here. Lemieux edges the action. Lemieux, 10-9
Round 2: Lemieux goes straight back to work. Lands to body. N’Dam circling, good footwork. Both men trade as N’Dam gets trapped on ropes. N’Dam tackles Lemieux to the floor, grabbing his legs. Is N’Dam hurt? Was he tagged by a shot? Lemieux smothers his cornered foe with heavy firepower, piling on the pressure. Lemieux knocks down N’Dam with huge left-hook! Lemieux beats count, seriously hurt! On ropes, getting nailed with right-hands! On rubber legs, but sees the bell. Lemieux, 10-8 (20-17)
Round 3: Lemieux jumping all over N’Dam. Cutting off ring, throwing bombs. Right-hand from N’Dam. And another. Boxing well considering the previous round. Great recovery powers. Lemieux hunting, hunting. Misses with big hook. N’Dam has ring smarts for sure. Good jab from N’Dam. One-two. Jab connects. And another jab. N’Dam, 10-9 (29-27)
Round 4: Lemieux pounces on N’Dam straight away. All business. N’Dam moving, dancing. Lands uppercut. Sticking and moving. Establishing range. Left hook from Lemieux, and another. Staggers N’Dam! Uppercut from N’Dam. N’dam boxing beautifully here. Edges round. N’Dam, 10-9 (38-37)
Round 5: Lemieux charges in, lands hard left-hook. N’Dam takes it well. N’Dam on ropes, turns his man around, circles the ring. Lemieux knocks down N’Dam with cruching left-hook! Lemieux all over his man. N’Dam fights back, somehow recovers. N’Dam dropped again! Beats count and takes a straight-right! Trapped in corner! Lemieux blasts him with left-hook and body shots! Bell rings! Lemieux, 10-8, (48-44)
Round 6: Lemieux doesn’t waste a second in finding N’Dam. Left-hook from Lemieux. And another. Uppercut. Body shots. Huge-straight right from Lemieux, hurts N’Dam! N’dam fights back. What heart! Right-hand from N’Dam! N’Dam caught with big shot in closing seconds that sends him back into ropes! Lemieux, 10-9 (58-53)
Round 7: Triple jab from Lemieux. N’Dam mobile, moving well. Somehow still in this fight. N’Dam jabbing. Stick-and-move tactics. Left-hook from Lemieux. Two good jabs from N’Dam stop Lemieux temporarily. N’dam down from huge left-hook! Survives round yet again! Lemieux, 10-9 (68-61)
Round 8: Lemieux stalks from bell. Goes in with hard shots. N’Dam comes back with right-hand. Jab from N’Dam. N’Dam gets pummeled on ropes, somehow takes it. N’Dam boxes well center ring. Courageous stuff. Lemieux punishes N’Dam on ropes. Body, head! Lemieux, 10-9 (78-70)
Round 9: Nothing changes. Intense pace remains. Lemieux stalking, N’Dam boxing. Lemieux misses with a few wild shots. N’Dam sticking and moving. Left-hook from Lemieux. Nice jab from N’Dam. Lemieux edges round. Lemieux, 10-9 (88-79)
Round 10: Lemieux tries to take out N’Dam in opening seconds. N’Dam still moving surprisingly well. Both men still looking strong and athletic. Lemieux right-hand. N’dam gets jabs off. Hard jab from Lemieux. Lemieux clips N’Dam with left-hook center ring, sends his foe trailing back. N’Dam tells him to bring it! Lemieux, 10-9 (98-88)
Round 11: N’Dam elusive in opening minute. Nice quick-fire one-two from N’Dam. Lemieux finds N’Dam with stiff jab. Lemuiex comes off better in exchange. N’Dam gets a few shots off. Lemieux left-hook staggers N’Dam. And another! N’Dam, 10-9 (108-97)
Round 12: Both men touch gloves. N’Dam lands decent counter, followed by two jabs. N’Dam having a great round, finding the target. Fighting his heart out. Fighters exchange big going into final minute. Scoring blows for both men! N’Dam narrowly edges round. N’Dam, 10-9 (117-107) And we go to the scorecards…
Result: 115-109 (twice), 114-110, Lemieux (Unanimous Decision)
BoxingBase.com Scorecard: 117-107, Lemieux
Lemieux vs N’Dam: Undercard
Dierry Jean (28-1, 20 KO) had little difficulty in landing a Unanimous Decision over Jerry Belmontes (19-6, 5 KO). Scorecards for the 10-round Lightweight contest came in at 99-89, 98-91, 99-90.
Also on the co-support, Ayaz Hussain won a 2nd round TKO over Miguel Antoine. Steven Butler had to settle for a draw against Jaime Herrera. Mathieu Germain scored a 2nd round stoppage over Richard Horvath, and Mian Hussain won a Unanimous Decision over Ivan Pereyra.
Give us your take on Lemieux vs N’Dam in the comments, fight fans!
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