WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin - 33-0, 30 KOs - has long wanted to unify major world titles, but the sport’s most terrifying puncher hasn’t been able convince any of other champions to fight. That all changes now. Montreal hitman and IBF champion David Lemieux, also a fearsome puncher, has stepped up to face “GGG”.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online boxing odds currently list Golovkin has a huge favorite, with a -1400 money line. Lemieux, bless his soul, checks in at +700. In this 12-round bout between punishing knockout artists, I’d expect the total to be set around 8.5 rounds. Remember to check in on the morning of fight night for prop bets, because they should definitely be interesting. BookMaker updates their odds daily, expect the lines to shift as action starts coming in.
“THERE WILL BE BLOOD”
Props to Lemieux for having the cojones to step up and face Golovkin. I don’t see any way that this bout disappoints. These are two of boxing’s most aggressive and fan-friendly fighters, with enough explosive power between them to level a city.
“GGG” is fresh off a sensational 6th round TKO of Willie Monroe Jr. in Los Angeles. What was surprising about the win was his popularity among the Hispanic crowd, who is arguably the sport’s largest fanbase. Golovkin is a native of Kazakhstan, but his ultra-violent style is finally earning him the attention he deserves.
Canada’s Lemieux claimed the vacant IBF belt by beating Hassan N’dam by unanimous decision in Montreal. During the bout, Lemieux scored four knockdowns in a highly entertaining bout. His only career losses have come against Marco Antonio Rubio and Joachim Alcine, and the 26-year old enters the bout on a nine fight win streak.
“This is the fight that all the fans and the world wants to see,” Lemieux said. “I hope and expect this will be the best fight of the last five years. There will be blood. It’s going to be exciting. Everyone should be ready to have a new man to fear in the middleweight division. I am well aware of what kind of power I am facing, but I’m not worried about it.”
“It’s going to be a war. I know he’s going to come to fight. He might break my nose, but I’m going to break his too.”
The fight will unify the WBA, IBF, interim WBC and IBO titles, but more importantly, the winner will earn mandatory challenger status for the winner of November’s PPV bout between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez. If Golovkin gets past Lemieux, he’s set up for the biggest fight of his career.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
While this should be an exciting fight, Lemieux’s lack of name value will probably hold it back from entering into the mainstream. There’s a reason he’s not a draw like Golvokin is, and it’s because he doesn’t have the overall skill of GGG. While he’s got plenty of power, he hasn’t shown an ability to beat top-notch guys like Rubio.
I see this fight being close in the early rounds, but the gap in talent should emerge by midfight. Golovkin will land a few monster shots and put Lemieux on shaky legs and finish the fight by the ninth round. Make sure to check the prop bets and see what the value is for Golovkin to finish by KO/TKO - it’s likely to net you a better return than betting on GGG straight up to win.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker Sportsbook and get all the latest Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux boxing odds, including moneylines, totals and prop bets. The title unification fight takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. The card will be televised live on HBO pay-per-vew starting 9 p.m. ET.
Make sure to check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates. You can bet on real-time odds during the bout, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. And with multiple reliable payout options, collecting your earnings is always quick and easy.
