Interview with TSN's Boxing Analyst Russ Anber - Bute/Andrade, Pascal/Diaconu, David Lemieux...
by The Boxing Bulletin on Nov 27, 2009 6:15 PM EST
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Ivan Montiel had a chance to chat this week with TSN's boxing analyst Russ Anber. The Montreal based trainer gives his take on the Quebec boxing scene - with thoughts on Andrade/Bute, Pascal/Diaconu, David Lemieux and more...
Ivan Montiel: Thanks Russ for checking in with us at The Boxing Bulletin. Let me start out by asking about this weekend's anticipated rematch between Lucian Bute and Librado Andrade - I am guessing Marlon Wright won’t be the ref this time?
Russ Anber: No, the ref will not be Marlon Wright. I understand the IBF has listed their officials and the man in charge will be Benny Esteves.
IM: How do you see the fight going?
IM: Moving on to Pascal versus Dianconu. As a team member of Pascal, were you surprised at all on how well Pascal did in his first fight?
RA: Not at all. We prepared well from the start, and we had a plan going into the fight and Pascal executed it very well. I believe Pascal is going to be even better this time around.
IM: How is Pascal looking in training camp at this point?
RA: Pascal is looking excellent! I am getting reports everyday, and his team is very happy with Pascal’s preparations. After training in Colombia for 3 weeks in the mountains, he moved on to train in the Dominican Republic. I am expecting a hell of a fight come December 11.
IM: Training in Colombia - how did that come into play?
RA: Well his team wanted to do altitude training. They took Pascal 5 thousand meters above sea level.
IM: Now let’s just say Pascal gets by Diaconu once again - what’s next for him? Is there a possibility of Pascal fighting Chad Dawson?
RA: Whenever having to deal with Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw, we just never know what to expect, therefore I cannot give you an answer for now. I know the winner between Dawson and Johnson was supposed to fight Pascal next, but with Gary Shaw we just do not know.
IM: Let’s move on to undefeated middleweight David Lemieux, a young fighter that you having been working with for many years now. Can you tell us a bit more about him, and what we can expect from this rising young middleweight prospect?
RA: Well he’s 20 years old, undefeated with a record of 19 wins and 19 KO’s. Now that’s a record like unlike any we've seen in Canadian boxing history! No other fighter in Canada has ever started like David Lemieux, and I am very proud of him. I should also mention that on December 11, Lemieux will be fighting Delray Raines.
IM: Good to see you have Lemieux fighting on a steady basis.
RA: Yes we are trying to keep Lemieux very busy. David was also in the Dominican Republic training, and was also a sparring partner for Jean Pascal. I am very happy with the way he is progressing.
IM: What’s the time-table for Lemieux as far as stepping up in competition?
RA: Lemieux has already stepped up in competition by fighting Bladimir Hernandez, Donny McCrary, Alfredo Contreras and now fighting Delray Raines. I believe we have already stepped up in competition. People think because Lemieux is knocking his opponents out, that David isn’t fighting real competition. Bladimir Hernandez was a hell of a fighter. Alfredo Contreras went 7 rounds with Anthony Dirrell, went 10 rounds with Sebastien Demers - yet Lemieux knocked out Contreras in two rounds. Of course I don’t have to tell you about Donny McCrary, Lemieux knocked him out in 2 minutes.
IM: Moving on with the new young blood in boxing. What other rising Quebec fighters should boxing fans be looking out for in the future?
RA: Well actually we have two Colombian fighters now fighting out of Quebec. Both Oscar Rivas and Eledier Alvarez are looking very good. These are two young fighters to look out for.
IM: I will keep an eye out for those two. How about Joachim Alcine. He's fighting on December 5th. He didn’t look that good in his most recent fight, any word on him?
RA: It was not Alcine’s best performance, but come December 5 we shall see how he does.
IM: I heard Alcine is currently training with Buddy McGirt any word on his training camp?
RA: Yes, Alcine is training with Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, Florida. Not sure how he’s been looking in camp though.
IM: My final question is what many boxing fans having been asking... when is your show, In This Corner going to return?
RA: I shall be back after the Olympics!
IM: Gracias Russ, it was a pleasure talking to you once again.
RA: Anytime Ivan adios!
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I'm a fan of Lemieux
I don’t know if he has as much upside as some of the other up-and-coming middles like Jacobs, Korobov, N’Jikam and Golovkin, but he’s a lot of fun to watch, and the fact that he’s still so young makes me wonder how much more he can still improve. Delray Raines is a tough fighter, so hopefully he’ll help test Lemieux a bit.
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