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Talk about a monster KO! David Lemieux nearly decapitated Curtis Stevens tonight on HBO when both fighters traded hooks in the third round. Lemieux’s thunderous left hook landed first in the exchange and hit Stevens right on the button, causing Stevens to absolutely crumble as he was knocked unconscious.
It was a devastating scene as Stevens was laid out on the canvas for several minutes motionless. He ultimately had to be stretchered out of the ring in order to receive medical attention - he was taken to a nearby hospital for observation. I really like Stevens as a fighter but it’s difficult for me to see him coming back from such brutal knockout...
During the post-fight interview HBO’s Max Kellerman asked what Lemieux saw as they watched the replay of the knockout blow, to which Lemieux responded, “I see checkmate.”
.@lemieuxboxing knocks @AssassinStevens out cold in round 3. #LemieuxStevens pic.twitter.com/plNMOBxCNU
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) March 12, 2017
Folks, I think this is my new candidate for knockout of the year. It was a truly vicious one punch KO.
The other televised fight was the extreme opposite - a completely dull 10 round decision win for Yuriorkis Gamboa. Gamboa was a clear class above Rene Alvarado but something seemed to be a bit off. It may have been Gamboa’s long layoff but there was very little action and Gamboa didn’t exert himself much.
Gamboa still controlled the pace for the most part and essentially swept all the rounds until he was caught in an exchange during the final and dropped. In the end Gamboa took a unanimous decision on scores of 97-92, 97-92, 97-93.