Boxing: Former Champ David Lemieux Returns March 12

Former boxing world champion David Lemieux is set to make his first appearance since suffering a one-sided stoppage loss to Gennady Golovkin in October.

Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of the Tiger Management on Tuesday announced that the Montreal native will fight on March 12 against veteran James de la Rosa.

Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) will take on de la Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round tilt, headlining a card at Olympia Theatre in Montreal.

Lemieux was unsuccessful in an attempt to knock off unbeaten powerhouse Golovkin when they headlined at Madison Square Garden last autumn. Golovkin dropped the Canadian in the fifth and eventually stopped him in the eighth. It was the first defense of the IBF middleweight title for Lemieux, who had won it via unanimous decision last June over Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam. Lemieux had won nine straight before taking on “GGG.”

“I am happy to be fighting in my hometown,” Lemieux said in a statement. “I’m very hungry to get back in the ring and I am ready to climb my way back to the top of the middleweight division. I know de la Rosa is a serious threat and I can promise all my hometown fans that I will be ready to give them all a great show on March 12.”

De la Rosa is also coming off a loss. In December of 2014, the Mexico native was knocked out in the fifth by Hugo Centeno Jr. De la Rosa had previously edged Alfredo Angulo over 10 rounds, but he was only 2-2 at that time before taking on “Perro.”

During the year-plus time away from the ring, de la Rosa has switched up his training and is determined to get back on track.

“A new trainer and a new strength and conditioning coach, have created a new James de la Rosa,” said de la Rosa. “I have no problem going to his hometown to show him and everyone else, that he isn't what he is hyped up to be. I'm going to Montreal to win.”