Lemieux vs. Saunders Negotiations Going 'Well' For December 16

[Ruthless-RKO]

According to Camille Estephan, the manager and co-promoter of Lemieux, the negotiations are going well for a date of December 16 in Laval, Canada.

"The negotiations are going well," says Estephan to Radio Canada. "We are more advanced [in the negotiations] than we thought we'd be at this moment. We hope to be able to finalize, in the next few days, an agreement for a world championship bout between Billy Joe Saunders and David Lemieux, on December 16 at Bell Place."

HBO is very interested in picking up Lemieux's return for December 16. There are already two potential opponents that HBO approved for the date, but they went to see him face Saunders.

When Saunders vs. Lemieux was ordered, Estephan says HBO was made aware that a bigger budget would be required in order to get this fight done - and the network appears to be on board with that request.

"When Saunders [was ordered to fight David], it was pointed out to HBO that it was the type of opportunity where we needed an increased budget," says Estephan. "This is where things have advanced really fast [in our negotiations]."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Makes sense for the fight to take place in Canada.. don't want anyone to say 'why should the champion travel'.. champions travel all the time..

Lemieux is a bigger draw in Canada than BJS is in the UK, and will sell out Bell centre.

HBO will pay good money to air the fight. They have spare budget and are really interested in Lemieux.. Saunders should take the fight, get out there infront of the US audience.. unlike when Whyte fought on the untelevised undercard.. this is a main event opportunity on US tv.. Saunders can put on a clinic, because we know when he's not lazy he is a good boxer.. snd if he does win.. it will be a bigger build for when he fights winner of GGG/Canelo..

[Enlightened-One]

I'm pleased this bout is going to happen.

I don't think that travelling is such an issue for Saunders, but Queensberry Promotions and BT have a pretty sizable war chest, so if GBP & HBO want all the cards stacked in their favour, by having Lemieux fighting on home turf, then they're going to have to pay through the nose for it.

Billy Joe Saunders will win this fight with ease if he can somehow find a way to either avoid or cope with Lemieux's haymakers.

Easier said than done, I know, but Saunders is underrated and is capable of getting the job done against Lemieux.

Lemieux had an opportunity to face Saunders earlier on in the year, but openly-admitted to rejecting it because there was too much risk for such little return. So David knows he's in for a tough fight, because otherwise he would have faced the Brit much sooner.

[jamamb]

how many 'easy' wins does bjs have over good opposition. not eubank, not ryder, not blackwell, not lee, not even that random russian who i thought beat him.

heck, even 'no punch' monroe won like 4 rounds. bjs a classic guy who does enough, but usually (against decent opp) not by that much.

[jamamb]

I'm pleased this bout is going to happen.

I don't think that travelling is such an issue for Saunders, but Queensberry Promotions and BT have a pretty sizable war chest, so if GBP & HBO want all the cards stacked in their favour, by having Lemieux fighting on home turf, then they're going to have to pay through the nose for it.

Billy Joe Saunders will win this fight with ease if he can somehow find a way to either avoid or cope with Lemieux's haymakers.

Easier said than done, I know, but Saunders is underrated and is capable of getting the job done against Lemieux.

Lemieux had an opportunity to face Saunders earlier on in the year, but openly-admitted to rejecting it because there was too much risk for such little return. So David knows he's in for a tough fight, because otherwise he would have faced the Brit much sooner.

mate just how much money do saunders ppl have. doesnt really seem like a money fighter to me but you can prob tell me more.

[Ossyrules]

If Saunders is on song he should take a decision by just fighting on the back foot and landing counters

If he’s not on song he catches a hayemaker and gets knocked out

I feel like there is more potential for the fight in UK

[jamamb]

what do you mean potential. like, a better chance it happens if they agree to uk.

[Ossyrules]

what do you mean potential. like, a better chance it happens if they agree to uk.

I mean in the right circs it could be a bigger event

[jamamb]

oh i see. well i did see lems title win in canada and was a very nice crowd if i recall. i didnt think bjs was really much of a draw but maybe im wrong. interested to see how bjs would take travelling for once. what if ppl are screaming for his head rather than laughing with him at nonsense like at last weigh in. lem has fought in us multiple times including ggg although thats not as far as journey.

[apollo creed]

I hope this fight happens. The mw division get's hotter and hotter. If Lara and Jermell will move up then we have a dope division. Too bad Golovkin is getting old.

[Ossyrules]

oh i see. well i did see lems title win in canada and was a very nice crowd if i recall. i didnt think bjs was really much of a draw but maybe im wrong. interested to see how bjs would take travelling for once. what if ppl are screaming for his head rather than laughing with him at nonsense like at last weigh in. lem has fought in us multiple times including ggg although thats not as far as journey.

I believe Canada can put on a good show. Chunky had a couple decent gigs over there. I’m going on mainly the boxing boom in England and allegedly partnership with BT opening up opportunities for bigger events for warren fighters

[Enlightened-One]

I'm pleased this bout is going to happen.

I don't think that travelling is such an issue for Saunders, but Queensberry Promotions and BT have a pretty sizable war chest, so if GBP & HBO want all the cards stacked in their favour, by having Lemieux fighting on home turf, then they're going to have to pay through the nose for it.

Billy Joe Saunders will win this fight with ease if he can somehow find a way to either avoid or cope with Lemieux's haymakers.

Easier said than done, I know, but Saunders is underrated and is capable of getting the job done against Lemieux.

Lemieux had an opportunity to face Saunders earlier on in the year, but openly-admitted to rejecting it because there was too much risk for such little return. So David knows he's in for a tough fight, because otherwise he would have faced the Brit much sooner.

mate just how much money do saunders ppl have. doesnt really seem like a money fighter to me but you can prob tell me more.

BT supposedly made the biggest deal in UK boxing history when they joined forces with Box-Nation, who now have a PPV vehicle.

I believe it was a nine figure sum, but I'm not precisely sure how many hundreds of millions are involved, but it's a multi-year deal with a minimum of twenty live events taking place each year.

[jamamb]

interesting. i guess you dont really have to be a particularly popular fighter if youve got that deal behind you. seeing lots of rumors of montreal but dont know if theres much to them or whether theyre all just taking from estephns statment. obviously thats the location hed probably prefer.

[jamamb]

lem on twitter says official. gonna happen in montreal it seems

[Enlightened-One]

lem on twitter says official. gonna happen in montreal it seems

It's also been confirmed by GBP and ESPN.

De La Hoya said the deal was struck in double-quick time.

[Cloutov]

Not in Montreal, it will be in Laval it s on the north shore of Montreal in a new building of 12000 seats it will be full and great