Friday Night Stunner: Marco Antonio Rubio Stops David Lemieux in Seven
by Scott Christ on Apr 8, 2011 10:59 PM EDT
in Boxing Results and Post-Fight Analysis
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Hyped Montreal product David Lemieux came into his Friday Night Fights main event undefeated and on the doorstep of an alphabet title shot, maybe even a truly big fight later in the year. The 22-year-old knockout artist was a sensation, going 25-0 with 24 fights stopped early.
And tonight, he got his professional reality check.
Mexican veteran Marco Antonio Rubio (50-5-1, 43 KO) played coy in the early rounds, giving away points but covering up, surviving, playing defense and getting some timing down along the way, before rallying in the middle rounds to hurt the hometown fighter in the sixth round, then stop him in the seventh, picking up his 50th career win, and arguably the biggest.
It was a fight where we got to learn a lot about the young prospect, and not everything is so rosy. Lemieux (25-1, 24 KO) looked like an offensive monster as usual early on, but even as early as the second round I was questioning the level of energy he was wasting to largely hit the gloves of Rubio. He wasn't setting up shots, wasn't targeting an open body on Rubio as much as he could have, and wound up headhunting.
Once Rubio got him into the middle rounds, he seemed to have Lemieux's patterns figured out, and then he began to time him. The Mexican slugged away some in the sixth round, clearly winning the frame (I had also given him a closer third round), and staggered Lemieux back some.
In the seventh, though, it all came together. Rubio knocked Lemieux back hard into the corner, scoring a knockdown and leaving Lemieux on very shaky legs. Rubio pounced after the eight-count, throwing what he had at Lemieux until trainer Russ Anber stopped the fight, ending his charge's unbeaten streak and shelving his chances at glory this year.
Since I suspect Anber is going to take a little heat for the stoppage, let me say I think he made the exact right call. Lemieux was not going to get out of that round, and even if he had, the tide had seemingly turned irreversibly. To save the youngster from taking unnecessary punishment and getting knocked out hard, he made the tough decision to wave the towel. With that decision, Lemieux lives and he learns from the mistakes he made in this fight, and he comes back another day. Undefeated records are overrated, anyway. Tonight he lost the fight. He's got a lot more of them in his future.
Anber also gave Lemieux very good advice during the fight, especially between the sixth and seventh rounds when he told Lemieux that he was moving too much and putting himself at the end of Rubio's range. He was correct. But Lemieux couldn't change from Plan A, and it cost him the fight.
Fighters lose fights when they take challenges. Rubio may not be a world-beater, but he's a credible fighter and had a very smart plan tonight. He said before the fight that he wanted to take it into the later rounds and then stop Lemieux. His options on paper were take that very risk, or get blown out early trying to trade. He took the risk, and it paid off.
In the co-feature, Adonis Stenveson (14-1, 11 KO) decimated Derek Edwards (25-2, 13 KO) and knocked him out in the third round. Edwards was wide open for a simple southpaw 1-2 in this one, and Stevenson made him pay for that, flooring him twice in the second round and one more time for the win in the third frame.
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rubio
Rubio has been having some great performances lately… even the Pavlik fight I thought he fought admirably in.
Well said
Rubio may not be a world-beater, but he’s a credible fighter
He is a solid veteran who keeps a good eye on the gates of entry for prospects and contenders alike.
He deserves a lot of credit for tonight.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
Rubio's a lot better than a gatekeeper
He just crapped the bed against Pavlik.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I can’t disagree more. Lemieux definitely could have made it out of that round. I’m not saying he was going to, but he assuredly had a good shot. Given the points lead that Lemieux must have had, you have to hope he gets to the corner so you can tell him to run for a round and then come back with an on the fly plan B. It had nothing to do with undefeated records or meaningless title shots. He still could have won that fight on points if he cojuld have just pot shotted and split the rounds there on out. Again, I am not saying it would have worked out well, but damn you just dont’t give up when there is still a very realistic chance of winning a fight like that.
Though from a PR standpoint the move was pretty brilliant, however accidental. People are going to question that corner move as much as anything Lemieux did. People just love second guessing.
Can't agree.
The kid was taken into deep waters and was going to get picked apart by straight shots.
One more round of those and who knows. A young prospect could easily turn into the next Edison Miranda.
Lemieux, to me, looks like a one dimensional brawler who, unless he learns cadence and patience, how to set up his shots….and the sweeter elemtents of his craft, is a candidate for BossMan’s Fanpost:
Can you name fighters whose styles are not suited for ring longeveity?
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
The kid was taken into deep waters
I never knew Teddy Atlas posted here!
by Verklemptomaniac on Apr 9, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
In spirit only.
Sometimes TA has an over used cliche or two that are appropriate.
Lemieux’s people will have to ask themselves if in fact they have moved him along correctly. Hindsight is 20/20 but the fact is Lemieux has not fought many rounds. He is accustomed to quick endings….and he was clueless once his Plan A wasn’t working against a cagey veteran.
I am still contending that his punches do not appear to have the effect they have anticipated on full middleweights and that he may be more successful at 154. On the other hand, Martinez and Cotto would murder him at that weight.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
I don't question him fighting Rubio
Sometimes you need to see what a kid has got, for real. We saw. And I agree that undefeated records are overrated. Lemieux DID look small in there though. If he were to drop to 154, no reason he’d have to jump right into fights with Martinez and Cotto. Kassim Ouma makes more sense to me.
I do think his weight's an issue--
partly because he’s 3-4 lbs soft in the middle at 159-60, even at 158 he’s not ripped—but 154 might be too weight drained, and he’s maybe stuck at being a small middleweight, 156-57 best for him imo.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
He was done, his legs were gone, Rubio hurt him in the previous round and was landing power-shots at will at the time of the stoppage. Good stoppage by his corner, may allow him to retain some confidence.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
Lemieux looks sooo amateurish when he’s not moving forward – he expends an incredible amount of energy bouncing around. Pot shotting and running wasn’t gonna work, he doesn’t really know how to do that, and his legs were a mess.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
that's what I was gonna say
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
I read elsewhere that his corner believed his jaw was broken
Either way, he was taking straight shots and had no experience and/or ability to block, hold and otherwise protect himself.
Botton line: He got beat. And the winners were Rubio and the sweet science.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
I’m not sure the ref would have let it go much further anyways. Lemieux wasn’t protecting himself anymore and the ref was looking carefully. Unless the ref is a Mercante jr. type bastard, he was probably on his way to ending it himself.
BTW, I may be wrong, but I didn’t see Lemieux protesting too much because of the stoppage.
Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.
When Hollywood makes a movie of this epic upset...
Steve Lemme needs to be cast as MAR.
Good fight. I liked the turnaround, and seeing MAR survive the initial flurry. Will be good to see how Lemieux reacts and adjusts.
Rubio
I thought it was a masterful performance by a cagey vet in Rubio.
I didn’t think Rubio looked good at all in the Pavlik fight – he never really seemed like he was there to win it. But tonight, despite the furious early pressure, he was always relaxed and seemed in the fight. As soon as the bell rang in the first round I thought he looked like a much looser, more composed guy than the Rubio who survived and then didn’t against Pavlik.
Also, this is yet another fight that makes Pavlik’s demise seem…..overstated. Rubio wanted no part of the Pavlik power, from the first bell. The other fights that make Pav’s demise seem overstated in retrospect: Martinez and Hop.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
I'm not sure I agree with your conclusion
But I will say that Lemieux does not have the power that was ascibed to him previously. His punches loop. His rythym…well, doesn’t rhyme.
Pavlik can hurt you with the same kind of straight shots that Rubio hurt Lemieux with. Short distances. Lots of power.
Kelly is better by far than this kid tonight…but he still has no Plan B when his limited arsenal is countered.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
no doubt Kelly has no plan B. Would love to see him with any number of legit trainers.
I didn’t think Rubio was hurting Lemieux in close. Rather, I think the end of that long right hand (on Pavlik or Rubio) is a bad place to be.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
if by “short distances” you mean “straight punches” than I certainly agree.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
Who was the Lady in Red?
Lemiux looked at her after he went down the first time. She stood up. She also jumped up and seemed to yell at the corner before the trainer stopped the fight. Was that the dude’s mom?
"Gowin on fourth and 14 will punt it away. He hangs it very high, angling it for the near sideline...HAKIM DROPS THE BALL!!! HAKIM DROPS THE BALL!! Brian Milne might've fallen on it at the ten yard line! It's the New Orleans Saints' football! Brian Milne, the most unlikely hero of them all, falls on the fumble, the muff by Hakim! There is a God after all!" -- Jim Henderson
by hakimdropstheball on Apr 9, 2011 1:46 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Whoa, I just got off work, and now just reading about Lemieux getting stopped, Mark Johnson losing, and Bastie Samir got a draw against a guy who lost three straight. I love boxing!
by 36_chambers_ofdeatH on Apr 9, 2011 2:50 AM EDT reply actions
I feel bad for Lemieux
but I think he’s going to come back strong. From what I’ve seen previously, he has solid enough fundamentals and he clearly does hit hard. His big problem was that he was never getting any rounds, so he wasn’t having a real chance to develop and falling a bit in love with his power. He’ll have learned more from this fight than the previous 25 combined, and that has to be a good thing.
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I don't know if he can hurt elite middleweights
His punches were not putting rubio in dnger and after 5 he ws not even getting him to back off. I was struck by Rubio’s determination and ability to walk Lemieux back even after the verey showy first four round assault.
There cn be a ny=umber of explanations but one has to be that Lemieux’s punches appear more powerful than they are. Another is that rubio is craftier and more durable than ewe thought.
I contend Lemieux is not a sharp puncher. That is not a fatal flaw…but it is something that absolutely needs work.
So does his defense.
In Round One he got hit so flush my first thought was OMG, both Bute and Martinez (two guy he thought he saw flaws he would be able to exploit should they meet), would run through his own so fast the fight would have ended much sooner.
And not in Lemieux’s favor.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
He knocked out 24 out of 25 guys before last night. The ones I saw, they weren’t flash knockdowns. They were hard punches. No, none of the opposition were elite middleweights, but his problem was more that he was seeking an early knockout and not setting himself up well enough. Just because Rubio didn’t crumble doesn’t mean he suddenly doesn’t hard, IMHO.
The simple reason for that was that he’s gotten used to blasting people out, and not boxing. Its exciting, but he just doesn’t learn enough doing that. After 5 rounds he was suddenly starting to run out of ideas (when was he last in a 5th?!) and Rubio was growing in confidence.
The Bute-Martinez talk was all just hot air. But he can still come up to that class. Lets remember that previously the most impressive thing about him that Scott mentioned in his preview (and even I noticed watching him prior) is his coolness when he has a guy hurt or lands a decent punch. He doesn’t just jump in and wail away…he can reset, and try to pick his shots to finish it. His defense obviously needs work, I agree…but they have to match him a bit better and maybe he has to try to fight in a way that allows him to get some rounds in.
I still think the kid has a real chance, and I’m not going to write him off yet ;)
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
His defense obviously needs work
I think pretty much everything besides attack mode needs work.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
even his attacking
he didn’t even set it up as well as he usually does. It was just ‘one he feels my power he’s going to go’….maybe not giving Rubio enough respect
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
He’d stated earlier that he considered Rubio his toughest test, and that he considered Rubio better than either guy he’d have fought for the title if he’d won. I think he’s just not used to not KOing them right away, plus being genuinely worried re Rubio.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
ah yeah I heard that also
That was the whole problem with the way he wins, he was basically not learning anything(to repeat myself again…lol). I really hoped he would get some rounds, but not in this way. Even in his 2-4 minutes of fights he gets on average, or the minute or two before he really hurts an opponent, you can see he really has something and does have good skills.
I do think he underestimated Rubio a bit, the way he shifted gears in the first round to try to get him out of there. Just not the right plan.
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I tend to agree with him
regarding Rubio vs. the other two guys.
I don’t write him off either.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
that's one other person at least
and BoxAnne makes two….I’ll be really interested to see him fight next (and Not a one or two round blowout, hopefully)
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I don’t know if he can hurt elite middleweights
I agree. I’ve seen Rubio “feel” someone’s power. Last night he was relaxed and never got hurt.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
He'll be fine--
he’s in Montreal, where they don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater and he’s got a large and loyal fanbase, and he’s 22 yrs. old. When he connects, which he didn’t do much of last nite, he’s very powerful, always a good thing to be. But he never really gets rounds, such that his strength has been to his detriment, never giving an opportunity to learn. Also, he’s not Arreola, but his conditioning could be 3-4 pounds better—he hasn’t needed to be in top condition, because he’s always out of there so fast—but those days are over if he expects to learn and go forward. And he needs to listen better to his corner, which was giving him good advice. But basically he’s a 22 yr. old kid with a 25-1-0-24 record, who just needs to sharpen up.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
agree on the conditioning
I thought maybe I was being over-critical, but he didn’t look the absolute best at weigh in
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
to me he never does, and against Naugler, chin-of-stone journeyman/opponent he went 12 rounds with, he weighed 164, looked decidedly pudgy, and was clearly slowed, so it can only help if he gets the soft middle toughened up.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
I wish more trainers were like Russ Anber.
Very solid advice in the corner. Perfect timing on the decision to call the fight and save his guy from serious damage.
It did seem like Lemieux’s cheek was swelling, so I wouldn’t be shocked if there was a busted jaw involved.
Lost about four comments due to an unclosed bold tag that I can’t correct. Please, please watch your tags.
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