GYM Announces June 11 Date For Annual “Boxing Under The Stars” Fight Gala

For the 4th time, GYM (Groupe Yvon Michel) will present its highly-touted “Boxing Under the Stars” gala at the spectacular Uniprix Stadium in Jarry Park during the Montreal Grand-Prix weekend.

The eagerly anticipated event will take place on June 11th, 2010, the Friday before the world-famous Grand Prix of Canada.

Presented by the Casino de Montreal, this event has become a staple of one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions. The success of the first 3 events has been sensational. In 2006 Joachim Alcine (32-1-0, 19KO) won a title eliminator in front of his hometown fans, allowing him to become the Junior Middleweight World Champion the following year.

The 2006 gala also featured a young Jean Pascal (25-1-0, 16KO), as he tacked on another victory to his already impressive record. By the next gala in 2007, he was the North American Champion!

These galas also provided Hermann Ngoudjo (18-3-0, 10KO) with two world title shots thanks to victories in 2007 against Randall Bailey (40-7-0, 35KO) and in 2008 against Souleymane M’Baye (38-3-1, 21KO). Each time, a screaming crowd of close to 8000 spectators cheered him on.

The first three editions of this series met with numerous accolades as well as awards for “Canadian Event of the Year”. ESPN2, the network that broadcast these events live in the United States , immediately fell in love with not only the fantastic fights, but also with the amazing atmosphere of Uniprix Stadium.

There will be more than just boxing going on at Uniprix Stadium on June 11th. Every year close to 3000 fans congregate for a massive tail-gate party as they take advantage of the beautiful summer weather, the party atmosphere, and the great music and entertainment provided courtesy of top Montreal Radio Station, Radio NRJ.

The crowd will also have the opportunity to meet some of Québec’s boxing superstars for autographs and photo sessions. WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal will be present alongside many others including Antonin Décarie (23-0-0, 7KO) and Hermann Ngoudjo.

This time around, it will be the young and talented David Lemieux (21-0-0, 20KO) headlining the event. The knockout artist hailing from Laval, Québec will be entering his 4th year as a pro.

In just three years he has already swept the Québec, the Canadian, and the Junior Intercontinental Championship titles in his division. He has evolved into a powerful, aggressive puncher with an unstoppable will to win, leading ESPN to recently classify him as one of the world’s top prospects in his division.

Bernard Barré, Vice President of GYM, insists that David’s reputation be taken seriously: “David Lemieux possesses devastating punching power unseen in Montreal since the glory days of former world champion Mathew Hilton.

However, come June 11th, the 21 year-old Quebecer doesn’t want to be seen as just a prospect any longer. He wants not only to be considered a powerful force in the elite levels of the middleweight division, but also a serious contender to a World Title at 160lbs. That is why at the beginning of April; David will vacate his Canadian and his WBC Junior Intercontinental titles in order to fight for the prestigious WBC International Middleweight title.

Winning that belt will ensure him a place in the top ten of his division, as well as a possible chance at the World Title. Yvon Michel, president of GYM has limitless confidence in his young protégé: “Every one of our boxers who has won the main event of the Grand Prix Gala has gone on to fight for a World Championship within the following 12 months. David is on that same path.”

In addition to his obvious athletic abilities, David Lemieux also possesses all the qualities that could make him an international superstar. He has the type of charisma and personality which allow him to genuinely connect with his fans, regardless of whom they are or where they come from.

“I am very honored by the confidence that people put in me. Throughout my career I have always trained with the same energy and determination as I did when I first started as a pro. I promise to be at my absolute best when I enter that ring at Uniprix Stadium.”

All the action on June 11th will be broadcast live on Canal Indigo, Bell , and Shaw TV. Radio NRJ will also broadcast the main event on the airwaves throughout all of Québec for the first time.

June 11th 2010 marks David Lemieux’s explosion onto the world boxing scene at one of the world’s best boxing venues, Montreal ’s Uniprix Stadium.

Tickets starting at $20.00 go on sale Saturday at noon, and are available though Admission (514.790.1245) and GYM (514.383.0666).