David Lemieux kept his monster puncher reputation alive on the Canelo vs Khan undercard, dispatching Glen Tapia inside four one-sided rounds. Lemieux was the busier fighter from the onset, outworking the more tentative Tapia, and pounded away with too many unanswered bombs in the short-lived Middleweight contest.
Tapia managed to ride out the storm for the first three rounds without getting significantly troubled, but was decked courtesy of Lemieux’s trademark left hook in the 4th. Tapia beat the referee’s count, but trainer Freddie Roach decided his fighter had either taken enough punishment for one night, or, was simply in a fight he couldn’t win. Tapia protested the decision, of course, but in all likelihood things would have got a whole lot worse.
Lemieux, who was systematically broken down by Gennady Golovkin last October, now returns to winning ways, building to 35 wins, 3 defeats, 32 knockouts, while Tapia drops to 23 wins, 3 defeats, 15 knockouts.
Canelo vs Khan: Early Undercard Results
Curtis Stevens vs Patrick Teixeira
Dangerous veteran Curtis Stevens needed little time to expose unbeaten upstart Patrick Teixeira, proving himself to still be a legitimate 160-pound contender following a 2nd round TKO. Stevens got off to a fast start, keeping his work tight, sharp and measured, even rocking Teixeira with a solid jab. Teixeira, who was up against the first serious challenge of his pro career, seemed unsettled from the onset, and was knocked down hard courtesy of a Stevens counter right hook in the 2nd. Teixeira beat the count, but seemed to be strolling down queer street, which prompted the referee to call off the action.
Stevens now re-enters the Middleweight mix, climbing to 28 wins, 5 defeats, 21 knockouts, while Teixeira suffers his first career setback, reducing to 26 wins, 1 defeat, 22 knockouts.
Frankie Gomez vs Mauricio Herrera
Welterweight upstart Frankie Gomez had his way with Mauricio Herrera, with his fresher legs and faster hands allowing him to trump the veteran in just about every department. Gomez won via official scores of 100-90 (thrice) which mirrored Boxing Base’s own card. Herrera, who suffered a nasty gash under his left eye in the 2nd round, certainly looked every one of his 35 years as he ate countless punches while relying on his granite chin to carry him to the final bell.
Gomez may have had some turbulent times at Golden Boy, but you can’t deny his obvious talent. Gomez now bulks his unbeaten record to 21 wins, no defeats, 13 knockouts, while Herrera falls to 22 wins, 6 defeats, 7 knockouts.
Canelo vs Khan Undercard: Best of the Rest
- Diego De La Hoya (15-0, 9 KO) beats Rocco Santomauro (13-1, 1 KO) via 7th round TKO
- Jason Quigley (11-0, 9 KO) beats James De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KO) via Unanimous Decision 10; 100-90 thrice
Give us your take on Lemieux vs Tapia, Stevens vs Teixeira, plus the rest of the Canelo vs Khan card in the comments below.
