10-19-2015, 11:07 AM
Lemieux, manager say stoppage was premature
Former IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux is upset by the stoppage of his unification showdown with Gennady Golovkin and he wants a rematch.
“I feel like the referee called the fight too early,” said Lemieux. “I’m fine. When he stopped it, I wasn’t event on the mat, I could keep going. I have a lot of respect for Golovkin as a fighter. We prepared well for this fight, but I feel like I waited too long to take some shots tonight and that really hurt me. I want another chance at Golovkin and I will take advantage of it.”
Lemieux’s manager Camille Estephan added, “It was too early to stop the fight. That punch that Golovkin threw didn’t even bring David to the mat. David fought valiantly, he showed a lot of heart and skills. But Golovkin’s defense was great, I think that his defense is underestimated.”
“I had to do something,” explained referee George Willis. “David is a very competitive fighter and as long as he was able to throw punches, he was going to keep on trying but his chances of winning were decreasing as the fight went on. Against a guy like that he was going to get really hurt and I’m here to protect the fighter’s health and that’s my top priority. I couldn’t let him continue to receive punishment. I gave him every chance I could and I still hesitated too much. It was over.”
Former IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux is upset by the stoppage of his unification showdown with Gennady Golovkin and he wants a rematch.
“I feel like the referee called the fight too early,” said Lemieux. “I’m fine. When he stopped it, I wasn’t event on the mat, I could keep going. I have a lot of respect for Golovkin as a fighter. We prepared well for this fight, but I feel like I waited too long to take some shots tonight and that really hurt me. I want another chance at Golovkin and I will take advantage of it.”
Lemieux’s manager Camille Estephan added, “It was too early to stop the fight. That punch that Golovkin threw didn’t even bring David to the mat. David fought valiantly, he showed a lot of heart and skills. But Golovkin’s defense was great, I think that his defense is underestimated.”
“I had to do something,” explained referee George Willis. “David is a very competitive fighter and as long as he was able to throw punches, he was going to keep on trying but his chances of winning were decreasing as the fight went on. Against a guy like that he was going to get really hurt and I’m here to protect the fighter’s health and that’s my top priority. I couldn’t let him continue to receive punishment. I gave him every chance I could and I still hesitated too much. It was over.”