Middleweight knockout artists David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens are set to meet in the ring in March.
Lemieux vs. Stevens will take place at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York and will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark for Lemieux's WBO–NABO middleweight title. Lemieux said Stevens is just the next step in trying to recapture a world title.
"The time for talking is done, and after many long months of hearing Curtis yell about all the things he's going to do in the ring, I'm really looking forward to shutting his mouth on March 11," Lemieux said. "I've told everyone my goal is to once again become middleweight champion of the world. Curtis is in the way, and I'm going to go right through him."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya said the fight should prove to be an exciting one.
"We often see fighters pretend not to like each other to help draw an audience - these two guys aren't faking it; they don't like each other at all," De La Hoya said. "Given the thunder each holds in both hands and their desire to make a statement in the middleweight division, I think fans are going to be in for a knockout - and a spectacular one at that."
Lemieux is a former middleweight world champion before losing his title to current unified world champion Gennady Golovkin in 2015. Stevens defeated Patrick Teixeira last year to win the WBC Continental Americas middleweight title.
Both men are coming off of an undefeated 2016, with each boxer winning two bouts last year. The two boxers have knocked out their opponents a combined 53 times.
