David Lemieux to Battle Curtis Stevens on HBO in March

Golden Boy Promotions and HBO announced recently that former IBF middleweight world champion David Lemieux will return to the ring to face Curtis Stevens in a fight that should be an all-out action-packed war. The two will collide in the main event of an HBO Boxing After Dark telecast from within Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

Montreal’s Lemieux (36-3, 32 KOs) captured his lone world title in June 2015 when he conquered Hassan N’Dam via 12-round decision. A winner of several regional titles over the years, the free-swinging knockout artist came up short in the first defense of his IBF crown when he was dominated by pound-for-pound entrant Gennady Golovkin that October. Since then, Lemieux has won two straight; he’s knocked out Glen Tapia and out-pointed Cristian Fabian Rios and he is pumped to get his hands on Stevens.

“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.”

Stevens (29-5, 21 KOs) was also stopped by “GGG” three years ago but unlike his upcoming foe, “The Cerebral Assassin” lost on points to N’Dam. After taking all of 2015 off, the New Yorker has stormed back with back-to-back wins over Patrick Teixeira and James de la Rosa.

“The wait is finally over,” said Stevens. “No more talking. My hands will do the talking on March 11.”

Additional bouts, including the evening’s co-feature, will be announced in the coming weeks.