David Lemieux (38-4, 33 KOO) and Karim Achour (26-4-3, 4 KOs) fight on Saturday night at Center Videotron, in Quebec City, but the Canadian can no longer hope to take away the WBC international and French middleweight champion belt. He has indeed been unable to make the limit of 160-pounds for this fight.
The 29-year-old posted a weight of 162-pounds during the official weigh-in and he was unable to lose this surplus during the two-hour suspension he was given. While he was unable to make the limit, Achour scaled in at 159-pounds, a full pound under the limit.
This is not the first time Lemieux has problems making the weight limit before a fight. In March 2016, the fight between Lemieux and James De La Rosa was canceled when he missed the weight limit by more than two pounds.
This is a new tile in Lemieux’s career, who wanted to use this fight against Achour as a stepping stone to the highest peaks. On his last outing, he lost to WBO middleweight champion from England Billy Saunders, by unanimous decision of the judges in December.
For the Eye of the Tiger Management president and promoter of Lemieux Camille Estephan, it is clear that his boxer will now fight in a higher division.
“David followed his diet to the letter and did everything he could to be able to get the scale to 160 pounds.” Estephan told reporters.
“We have seen him suffer in the last few days at the gym to reach that weight, which is now hard for him to reach. The health of our boxers has always been a priority for us and it would be inconceivable to see David relive such a situation for each of his fights to come.” he added.
Lemieux, who has a record of 38 wins, including 33 before the limit, and 4 losses, has confirmed that he has been feeling good for a long time. In fact, he considers himself at the pinnacle of his career.
Lemieux told he will try to get hold of the WBC International and French middleweight titles, against Karim Achour, on Saturday night at Center Videotron.
“I am very excited to be here. I had the chance to attend a gala and I found that the atmosphere in the amphitheater was very good,” said Lemieux at a press conference on Wednesday.
