David Lemieux has been forced to withdraw from another scheduled match.
The Montreal native was scheduled to fight John Ryder in the co-main event of the Canelo-Jacobs card May 4, but he suffered a hand injury during a sparring session and announced Wednesday that he would be unable to participate in the Las Vegas-based event.
''Training camp was going really great," Lemieux said in a statement. "I felt in tremendous shape, the strongest I'd ever felt in my entire career. But, I will be back soon. Hopefully, the fans will understand. I promise I will make it up to them once I'm healed."
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“It’s very unfortunate that David Lemieux’s return has been postponed,” Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions, said. “But this is boxing, and these things happen. We wish David a speedy recovery and look forward to his return, so he can make big waves at 168 pounds.”
Lemieux, 30, has not stepped into the ring since defeating Gary O’Sullivan at 160 pounds in September. He was scheduled to take on Tureano Johnson in December, but the Canadian was hospitalized due to dehydration a day prior to the bout.
At 40-4 (with 34 KO), Lemieux is considered a possible future opponent for Canelo Alvarez, but he'll have to prove himself healthy enough before stepping up.