David Lemieux, one of boxing’s most handsome hitters, took on Philly tough guy Rosado, looking to shed journeyman status, in a middleweight scrap at Barclays Center, and on HBO, Saturday night. The Canadian Lemieux proved to be no pretty boy poseur; he had the power edge, and used it, mightily. Game Gabe hung in there, but couldn’t match the bombs coming his way. In round ten, he was eating, his left eye closed, his chances having moved from slim to near none…and the plug was pulled. Time of the stop came at 1:45 of the tenth, as the ref said no mas. Closed eye, blood starting to spill….no sense in letting Gabe eat too much more.

After, Lemieux said he to HBO’s Max Kellerman wanted to show the crowd he could be exciting. He said he’s willing “to fight everybody,” and that includes Gennady Golovkin. He said Rosado was better than he expected. Rosado after said Lemieux is a good fighter, but he was seeing three of the winner after his eye puffed up, in round two. “It’s just my luck,” he said, referring to a propensity to get swollen and cut up.

Lemieux went 227-621 to 142-398 for the loser.

In the first, Lemieux (33-2), the NABF middleweight champ, came out bombing. He came forward, as Rosado (21-9) backed up, waiting too much. Gabe did combos, and at the center of the ring, later in the round.

In the second, Rosado jabbed, moved, as Lem stalked. “Touch him and move,” Gabe’s corner yelled.

In the third, Lem came out jabbing, stalking, as Gabe had a high guard, partially so he wouldn’t get cut. A left hook sent Gabe to the mat. Gabe then blocked and held, a vet’s reaction to getting buzzed bad.  The left eye puffed but he made it to the end of the round.

In the fourth, Lem came out gunning. A left hook sent Rosado back. Gabe waved him to come forward and then landed a right. The ref was grinning while bombs were traded. This was a superlative round of pugilsim.

In the fifth, it was a calmer round. Lem was patient, a predator not crazed but focused. Rosado stayed smart, kept the guard high, defended smartly.

In the sixth, left hooks to the body thudded on Gabe. “Touch the body!” Rosado’s corner yelled. Gabe danced, and almost landed a right cross. The round was all Lemieux. In the seventh, we heard, “Let it go, Gabe,” from the Rosado corner. Lem fought smart, not crazed. A sharp right landed on Rosado, caught in a corner. In the eighth, the left eye looked horrid on Gabe. Lem stalked, kinda politely. Canadian style stalking, is how Ring’s Doug Fischer put it, sagely.

In the ninth, Lem stalked, Rosado landed a right upper, tried to attack. Lefts to the body thudded on Rosado, though. A counter left hook sent Gabe reeling after he got offensive, after throwing two low blows away from the ref’s eyeline.

In the tenth, a right scored on Gabe. He backed into corners, ate lefts to the body. A left jab buzzed Gabe. The doc hopped up to call for a halt, and the ref grabbed Gabe. Game over for a proud pugilist who simply, of so frustratingly to the man, can’t get over that proverbial hump when in with boxers just a bit more skilled or fated to rise than he. Know what he deserves, I dare say. A winnable fight in Philly. He’s earned that, for sure.

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