Saunders Ordered to Fight Lemieux by WBO

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/20980360/wbo-orders-middleweight-champ-billy-joe-saunders-fight-former-titlist-david-lemieux

I think that Billy Boy will need to be on his A game for this fight. I know that Lemieux's often seen as a bit of a one-dimensional slugger, but he's pretty handy and does take a shot well - it's more the accumulation of shots that has done for him in the past. BJS is not known for his power, so will Lemmy just walk straight through him?

It's also a bit of an unknown as to how Lemieux will travel as all his fights have been in the US & Canada, and it's extremely unlikely that this fight will be anywhere but the UK.

I am a fan of Lemieux - he has suffered losses (no shame against GGG) but has come back and worked his way back up to contender status. He's exciting and brutal, everything BJS is not. Normally I would get behind the Brit as a home supporter, but there's something about Saunders I just don't like. He's also not fought anyone in Lemieux's class, other than squeaking past a green Eubank Jr 3 years ago and winning his WBO bauble against Andy Lee. With only 12 of 25 wins coming inside the distance, he's not going to KO Lemieux that's for sure. This goes one of 2 ways: A boring UD in favour of Saunders where he fights defensively, or Lemieux connects and puts his lights out.

Either that or Frank finds that Lemieux's visa "isn't in order" and BJS instead fights a Latvian bodybuilder who is somehow mysteriously ranked #9 by the WBO...

Good fight, hoping it actually happens

Is a very good fight Saunders would need to bring his A game

If Saunders can outwit Eubank jr.............Why believe a plodder with a decent punch bothers him ??

120-108

Eubank hitting harder at 68 than at 60, Lemieux has lights out power at 60 Saunders has a good chin we’ll find out if it’s granite with Lemieux

My point was he outwitted Eubank until he won the fight and coasted.....

Eubank's power wasn't really a factor......and he is a better operator...

A plodder is a plodder..

Your point seems a little jumbled

Anyway, Saunders could put on a masterclass against Lemieux and not get hit all night but it’s not like Thurman/Garcia where you knew Danny was too slow to land his left hook on Keith. Can’t entirely rule out Lemieux landing at some point and he carries a lot more power than Eubank at 60

Good fight

To be fair, disagree Truss. Should be a good fight - by far, in my eyes, the best fighter BJS would have fought.

mobilemaster8 wrote:To be fair, disagree Truss.  Should be a good fight - by far, in  my eyes, the best fighter BJS would have fought.

Why because he can punch ??..............

Matthew Macklin in his prime would beat him......

He could beat plenty of more technically gifted fighters than himself because of his power..

Who’s to say he wouldn’t stop Macklin with a left to the body?...

Be interesting to see if he can work Saunders’ body and get him under any kind of pressure...

Herman Jaeger wrote:He could beat plenty of more technically gifted fighters than himself because of his power..

Who’s to say he wouldn’t stop Macklin with a left to the body?...

Be interesting to see if he can work Saunders’ body and get him under any kind of pressure...

Who is to say Eubank couldn't have stopped Sugar Ray Robinson.....

What we do know about Lemieux is he is one dimensional... and power or not... it is a problem against quality fighters that are defensively astute....Andy Lee could dig.

Golovkin is a better fighter than Saunders but he isn't as good defensively as Saunders............and Lemieux couldn't hurt him.

My guess is you want to see BJS lose so you hope he gets nailed..........But great fights are between two decently matched foes.........This guy is limited and looking for a hail Mary.......We can agree to disagree.

You still haven’t forgiven Eubank calling Saunders British standard lol

If it comes off I think it's a fantastic fight

Think both fighters are about the saem level but stylistically really different and think people are underated lemieux a little. Lemieux is limited yes but has he ever been dominated aside from GGG who would've done the same to BJS. He can be outboxed but he can also be really hard to stop from walking through you.

Billy can give the impression that he hasn't got great stamina, much like Degale, as he allows himself to sit on the ropes and can sometimes lose momentum during fights but he actually has a good workrate and always makes it to 12 rounds

He has never been in with a puncher like Lemieux or anyone who charges forward so will be interesting to see if he's tough enough as he should outbox him if hit goes the distance

Personally feel lemieux can get to him and stop him about round 8

I think this is a good fight and I hope BJS doesn’t find a way to pull out.

I always think BJS looks a very decent boxer. Moves quite well and puts his punches together well. The one obvious think he lacks is power which is why i don’t think he will ever be a top level fighter. He also doesn't look or ever look to be in the best shape. So bearing that in mind I do not think he can stop Lemieux so needs to win on points. But i doubt he will be able to apply himself fully for the full 36 minutes and when he starts to get tired (like he did against Eubank) I think he will get stopped as Lemieux can bang. My prediction is Lemieux via KO in the 10th with BJS ahead on the cards.

A late stoppage for Lemieux seems unlikely to me, he's only won by stoppage past the seventh once so his only chance seems to be getting to Saunders early which again I don't see as being likely.

LionsV2 wrote:A late stoppage for Lemieux seems unlikely to me, he's only won by stoppage past the seventh once so his only chance seems to be getting to Saunders early which again I don't see as being likely.

I see what your saying, I just think Lemieux is quite a big step up for Saunders and will gas late. How do you think it will go?

Saunders will control things early on build up a lead behind his jab and a couple of flashy combos a round then drift through the last five rounds; Lemieux isn't the toughest Middleweight so could see a stoppage.

Don’t know how anyone can moan about this fight Lemieux definitely in with a chance of stopping him

It’s an ok fight if it happens. Saunders much the better boxer but with a dangerous habit of just doing enough. He limped over the line against lee And Eubank And has struggled against domestic level competition.. so while a masterclass doesn’t seem beyond him it never really happens with him does it.

As for Lemieux. I guess people love a banger but apart from a few highlight reel ko’s There’s precious little in his record to justify the hype.

I’m tempted to say can’t Fight v won’t Fight but I know that’s harsh. It’s the kind of fight i’d Watch free to air if I was in, but wouldn’t go out of my way for.  I’d probably say that whoever Saunders fought though to be honest!

Saunders vs Lemieux deal agreed. December 16 in Quebec.

Interesting. I did not expect to see Saunders travelling. I can imagine Lemieux will be fired up for this fighting at home.

Yeah full credit to Saunders for facing a dangerous puncher in his own back yard definitely be staying up for it, brings his a-game should be too slippery for Lemieux but I’d rather not make any predictions

Finally - Saunders fighting someone decent. At least ranked. Good fight, should be too slick for Lemiuex, but will show just how good he thinks he is. Not many cruise past David.

In Quebec? I am genuinely pleasantly surprised. I still think BJS will gas and get KO'd late unless he is in much better shape than I have seen him before as this is step ip. Be a good fight and best of luck to both fighters.

I still don't see how the fight going late benefits the man who's gone the full twelve just twice as opposed to the guy who's done it nine times and won every time.

LionsV2 wrote:I still don't see how the fight going late benefits the man who's gone the full twelve just twice as opposed to the guy who's done it nine times and won every time.

You could say because one is a puncher and one isn't?

The puncher having lost three times in fights that go beyond the halfway point, his only chance is early.

2 of thoise were Rubio and GGG who are better operators than BJS IMO. I will concede on Alcine though.

BJS always looks scrappy at the end and has no power to put away Lemieux. He hasnt looked like a world beater in his last two fights and I just think when his workrate drops he will get caught. I am not super confident on this just how i see it.

Golovkin yes but Rubio certainly not.

Saunders propensity for cruising the final rounds will catch him out eventually but just feel it's going to take someone with a better engine than Lemieux to do it; Eubank would now be favourite to win for that very reason. It's not the easiest of fights to predict but think Lemieux early or Saunders on points are the percentage calls.

Well lets see, be a good fight eitherway and pleased it is happening.

Think BJS may have issues especially with it being away from home