David Lemieux is ready to go toe-to-toe with David Benavidez in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday night.
The Canadian knockout artist (43-4, 36 KOs) will hope to turn the clock back and upset the odds by defeating the WBC Interim Super-Middleweight belt holder.
“If he wants a war, he’ll get a war,” said Lemieux at yesterday’s media workout.
“David Benavídez will have his hands full on Saturday night.”
It’s been seven years since the 33-year-old became IBF middleweight champion comprehensively beating Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in Montreal. Since then, Lemieux has suffered just two defeats to Gennadiy Golovkin and Billy Joe Saunders in 11 fights.
“If you know David Lemieux, he’s never refused a fight and he’s always taken whatever fight they put in front of him. When we had big fights in the past, we always took them. If you want to be a world champion, you have to fight the best.”
Benavidez is unbeaten in 25 fights and is seen as a legitimate threat to undisputed 168lbs champion Canelo Alvarez. While Lemieux praised the 25-year-old he wonders if the home favourite realises the size of the challenge in front of him.
“If you know David Lemieux, he’s never refused a fight and he’s always taken whatever fight they put in front of him. When we had big fights in the past, we always took them. If you want to be a world champion, you have to fight the best.”