Don’t Underestimate N’Dam In His Clash With Lemieux

Fights here, there, everywhere on Saturday. Some of us need a DVR upgrade, in fact, with fights on NBC, and BET, and Fox Sports 2.

That FS2 one, that’s a middleweight clash between power masher David Lemiuex, and adapter Hassan N’Dam, and the stakes are considerable in this one, so I’d get your DVR programmed to catch it.

If Lemieux, who opened eyes galore when he took out Gabe Rosado last year, could easily find himself gloving up in a power-puncher face-off with Gennady Golovkin if he beats the Cameroon-born N’Dam on this card co-promoted by Golden Boy and Eye of the Tiger, the Lemieux people.

N’Dam is maybe best known here for going down six times and losing to Peter Quilin in 2012, but since then, he told us he had only a couple weeks notice for that fight. So, maybe his chin isn’t so much the issue as was his prep…

FYI, the IBF 160 crown is up for grabs, so this is for more than bragging rights..

Lemieux comes in the favorite in many eyes, but that status should be examined. He is 33-2, with 31 Kos, for sure owns pop. He declares that he saw the light, started training hard and right after losses, to Marco Antonio Rubio and Joachim Alcine, back to back, in 2011-12. Since then, he’s won 8 straight, but against C and B level foes. Rosado has now lost five straight, and his previous win came against Fernando Guerrero, 2-2 in his last four. The Rosado win might have tilted people too hard in over-preaching Lemieux. The jury might still be deliberating on him…

Golden Boy VP Eric Gomez doesn’t pretend this is not a “dangerous fight, as it usually is for a world title fight. N’Dam is very, very dangerous, can box, can punch. If Lemieux beats him, and convincingly, I think he becomes a major player. Would he fight GGG next? He’s willing to fight anybody, all the top guys, that’s where we come in to play, the promoters, and we will look at all options, see what the best deal is, what pays the most and gives the most exposure. We want to be able to take popularity he has in Canada to the States, he’s a good looking guy with a fan friendly style, has tons of crossover appeal.”

N’Dam, who lives in France, might be over-looked because of that high-profile loss to Quillin. At 31-1 with 18 KOs, he relies on guileand athleticism to win, and thinks he has that edge over Lemieux.

N’Dam has good timing and hand quickness, good aggression when he wants to, mixes punches well, owns more power than his record suggests, is quite athletic, has good mobility, good reflexes…there’s lots to like. Lemieux, you have to like his pop in both hands, can’t sleep on either, or they might put you to sleep. He is aggressive, craves KOs, has stepped up his training and reads like a hungry fighter who won’t be denied his full due. He’s not as mobile as N’Dam, and sometimes doesn’t move his head as much as a trainer might like.
He has won four straight, over level of comp similar to the recent victims of Lemiuex.

Manager Gary Hyde told me he’s pretty damned sure his kid will get the better of Lemieux in Montreal, even if Montreal is Lemieux home turf. “He will make Lemieux beckon at his corner to surrender just like he did against Rubio,” the Irishman Hyde told me. “N’Dam is a warrior and unlike Lemieux, doesn’t tap out. Lemieux is a hype job who is great at dishing it out but can’t take it. Hassan will win…he’s in incredible condition mentally and physically. I am very confident in Hassan’s ability and he has had a great camp. He’s a dog in the gym, trains seven hours a day!”

Talk to me! Who will win, and how, my friends.

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