LAVAL, Quebec (AP) – Billy Joe Saunders toyed with frustrated David Lemieux in his hometown for a one-sided victory in a successful World Boxing Organization middleweight title defense Saturday night.
Saunders (26-0) made a third defense of the title the British fighter won from Andy Lee in 2015 and showed he could be a force in the division that is currently ruled by stars Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
Lemieux (38-3), a former International Boxing Federation champion, fell short in his bid to become the first Canadian since Arturo Gatti to win a second title.
Billy Joe Saunders, right, of Britain, lands a hit on David Lemieux, of Canada, during their WBO middleweight boxing title in Laval, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
Saunders had Lemieux off balance from the outset, making the Laval resident miss while darting in to land shots seemingly at will.
Canadian judge Benoit Roussel scored it a 120-108, Briton Phil Edwards had it 118-110 and Gerardo Martinez of Puerto Rico 117-111, all for Saunders. Only the third and sixth rounds were close until the final two rounds that Saunders mainly spent dancing out of Lemieux’s reach.
Billy Joe Saunders, right, of Britain, lands a hit on David Lemieux, of Canada, during their WBO middleweight boxing title match in Laval, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
David Lemieux, left, of Canada, defends as Billy Joe Saunders, of Britain, jabs during their WBO middleweight boxing title match in Laval, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
Billy Joe Saunders, right, of Britain, lands a punch on David Lemieux, of Canada, during their WBO middleweight boxing title in Laval, Quebec, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
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