David Lemieux: 'There will be blood' in title fight with Gennady Golovkin

NEW YORK - David Lemieux is a decided underdog heading into his bout with Gennady Golovkin, but he's unfazed by the challenge.

After the Montreal resident was upset in consecutive bouts in 2011, many thought he'd never get to this level. But not Lemieux. And he vows one thing ahead of his middleweight championship unification matchup on Oct. 17: it ain't going to be pretty.

"I respect Golovkin, I think he is great fighter, but I'm not here to be his friend, I am here to be is opponent," Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) said at Tuesday's press conference at Madison Square Garden, where the fight will take place. "I promise you, there will be blood."

Over 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the bout, a staggering number for two men who have never headlined on pay-per-view. Lemieux, who speaks five languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, Armenian and French), was shocked by Marco Antonio Rubio and then dropped a close decision to Joachim Alcine. He was written off by most at that point, but has rebounded in a big way.

The heavy-handed 26-year-old matured - both physically and mentally - latched on with trainer Marc Ramsay and went on to score six consecutive wins (five by KO) over nondescript opposition. He then blasted out Fernando Guerrero before signing on with Golden Boy Promotions last year.

His maiden voyage under Oscar De La Hoya announced his American debut, a knockout of Gabe Rosado in an HBO action fight at MSG in Dec. 2014.

Lemieux, with his movie star good looks, charisma, and firepower in both hands, has what it takes to be a star. If he can top boxing's boogeyman, he will have arrived.

"In boxing you have to be ready for anything, patterns change," he said. "I am ready to be part of that change and become the unified middleweight world champion.