Stevens to Lemieux: Bring Smelling Salts for the KO, Pretty Boy!
By Keith Idec
If the David Lemieux-Curtis Stevens fight is as entertaining as their conference call Tuesday, it’ll be well worth watching.
The middleweight contenders traded insults during a sometimes-contentious call to promote their March 11 fight at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Their war of words started Tuesday when a reporter asked Lemieux (36-3, 32 KOs) and Stevens (29-5, 21 KOs) if being friendly with one another makes it difficult to express dislike during the buildup toward their 12-round fight.
Stevens immediately made it clear that he isn’t all that fond of Montreal’s Lemieux.
“I am who I am, you know, 24/7, seven days a week,” Stevens said. “If I’ve got something to say about you, I say it to you. I believe the difference between me and David is David says it to the camera and I say it directly to his face. … When David sees me, David doesn’t say anything. David usually talks his sh*t to the press.”
Lemieux interjected and the two fighters talked over one another for an extended period of time.
Along the way, Lemieux said, “You’re gonna get knocked out. Don’t blink.”
Stevens said the time for talking is over now that their HBO “Boxing After Dark” main event has been made. That didn’t stop the Brooklyn native from firing back at Lemieux.
“I can’t wait, champ,” Stevens said. “You heard? I can’t wait. Tell the doctor to bring some smelling salt for when they need to wake your ass up. You heard, pretty boy?”
Lemieux mentioned Stevens’ losses as Stevens spoke.
“No problem,” Stevens said. “There could be three or four guys that could beat me. But one thing’s for sure – you’re not them guys, you heard? March 11th, meet me in the middle of the ring and that’s it. That’s all you’ve gotta do – meet me in the middle of the ring, champ. That’s all you’ve gotta do. You heard?”