Canelo vs. Khan Undercard: Preview and Prediction for Lemieux vs. Tapia
Former IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux returns to action Saturday night, as he faces Glen Tapia on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan.
Both men in this fight are coming off knockout losses. For Lemieux, it's his comeback fight after Gennady Golovkin stopped him last October in a middleweight unification bout.
These are two offense-first fighters. It could be an exciting bout, for as long as it lasts.
Tale of the Tape
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| Per BoxRec | David Lemieux | Glen Tapia |
| Record: | 34-3, 31 KOs | 23-2, 15 KOs |
| Height: | 5'9 ½" | 5'11" |
| Reach: | 70" | 73" |
| Weight: | 160 lbs | 160 lbs |
| Age: | 27 | 26 |
| Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Hometown: | Montreal | Passaic, New Jersey |
| Rounds: | 128 | 98 |
Glen Tapia is moving up in weight for this one, but he's actually the taller, longer fighter. Lemieux has fought at the true middleweight limit since the first couple of years of his career.
Both of these guys can hit with authority, and each one has been knocked out twice. Don't bet on this fight to go the distance.
Main Storylines
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If Gennady Golovkin wasn't on the scene, there's a good chance that David Lemieux would be the middleweight knockout machine who had all the fans buzzing with excitement. Lemieux is an explosive action fighter with power in both fists.
Lemieux's career has been bolstered by the fact that he's a native of Montreal, one of the world's great fight cities. He originally emerged on the scene when he was barely out of his teens. He won his first 25 professional bouts, with 24 ending within the distance.
Then he faced Marco Antonio Rubio in April 2011, and the Mexican veteran weathered his early storm and broke him down, stopping Lemieux in seven. Lemieux would lose for a second time in 2011, to journeyman Joachim Alcine by majority decision.
Lemieux rebounded from that bad year and won nine straight fights, with seven knockouts. He captured the vacant IBF belt in June 2015 by defeating Hassan N'Dam in a shootout.
That set up Lemieux for his big unification showdown last October against Golovkin. Lemieux was game against GGG but technically overmatched. Golovkin used a good jab to dictate the pace and eventually dismantle Lemieux, stopping him in Round 8.
Glen Tapia is a rugged, exciting fighter, but he sure looks like damaged goods. He took a brutal beating from James Kirkland in December 2013 before getting stopped in six rounds. He was knocked out in devastating fashion by Michel Soro almost a year ago and hasn't fought since.
Strengths
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David Lemieux is a good offensive fighter. He cuts off the ring and throws solid combinations to both the body and head while returning his hands to a good, tight guard. He has explosive power in both fists.
Glen Tapia is a strong athlete and has the size to handle a move up to 160 pounds. He applies pressure well and has the length to fight from the outside. His overhand right is a heavy punch.
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Weaknesses
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David Lemieux has trouble when he's unable to dictate the pace of a fight and get off first with his own offense. He struggles to adjust and fight off his heels.
Glen Tapia has trouble controlling distance and often neglects to keep his hands up while trading. He allows himself to get backed into the ropes, where he is vulnerable.
In his two professional losses, he took heavy damage from James Kirkland and Michel Soro. In both cases, it looked like the type of punishment that can leave a fighter permanently diminished.
David Lemieux Will Win If...
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This is a showcase opportunity for David Lemieux. Glen Tapia is a damaged fighter who is not hard to hit.
Lemieux has to be aggressive and make sure he is the one initiating exchanges and dictating the pace of the fight. He'll need to use a bit of head movement to slip his way inside on the longer fighter.
When Lemieux manages to push Tapia back, he should double down on his aggression and drive his opponent all the way to the ropes. Lemieux is the crisper, harder puncher. He should be able to win by stoppage just by being aggressive.
Glen Tapia Will Win If...
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Glen Tapia was once regarded as a legitimate prospect. But he's lost two of his last five fights by brutal knockout, and his once-promising career is now sputtering.
This fight against Lemieux gives Tapia a chance to get back on track in a hurry. A win here makes him an instant contender at middleweight.
But to do it, he'll need to fight better than he has before. He'll need to take advantage of his length and use a good stiff jab to catch Lemieux from the outside and slow down the Canadian's aggression.
If Tapia can manage to land first with his own offense and control the pace of the fight, he'll have a real chance to win.
Tapia is going to need to wage a smart fight and box when he can from the outside. He has to avoid getting pushed back and trapped along the ropes. And at close range, he has to tighten up his defense and use some head movement to lessen how often he gets hit.
Prediction
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I'm not crazy about this fight. David Lemieux is one of the better middleweights on the planet. Glen Tapia failed to establish himself as a true contender at junior middleweight and took heavy punishment in the process.
This fight is Golden Boy giving Lemieux the opportunity to record an impressive knockout on a high-profile card. Expect the former IBF champion to make good on that opportunity. This fight should be over inside of six rounds.
Gennady Golovkin soundly defeated Lemieux last October, but the Canadian didn't look terrible in the process. At 27, he still has time to climb the heights of the division once again. He'll remain a factor at 160 pounds for at least the next few years.
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