Cadieux loses to Blocus by decision

Canadian Press 5/12/2007 5:41:55 PM MONTREAL (CP) - Josue Blocus pulled off one of the toughest tasks in boxing - winning a decision in front of his opponent's home crowd. Blocus (15-2-1), the former French Olympian now living in Ormsby, Calif., won a 12-round majority decision on Saturday afternoon over Canadian heavyweight champion David Cadieux (16-2) at the Montreal Casino. The 37-year-old won the vacant NABO title, a minor belt. ''We're in Canada and he's the Canadian champion - and it's always hard to get a decision on the road,'' said Blocus, before joking that ''maybe I should change nationalities. Then I'd be Canadian champion.'' Although the fight didn't look close, local judge Jack Woodburn scored it 114-114, while Ted Gimza of Chicago had it 117-111 and Richard de Carufel of Montreal had it 118-110, both for Blocus. The Canadian Press scored it 117-111 for Blocus. Cadieux, a Trois-Rivieres, Que., native who has trained of late under former middleweight champ Otis Grant, said he accepted the decision. ''He's very good,'' he said. ''I'd be happy to fight him again, but there are little things I need to improve. ''I worked hard and I was prepared, but something was missing. We'll find it and then get back in the ring.'' The six-foot-five Cadieux never found a way to stop a persistent jab by the stocky Blocus, who also scored repeatedly with quick bodyshot-uppercut combinations followed by some big overhand rights. He had Cadieux in trouble at the end of the second round but the bell ended the chance for an early win. The Canadian champ rebounded in the fifth and sixth, but Blocus took over again, particularly in the 10th when he totally dominated. Blocus fought for France at the 1996 Olympics, but then moved to the United States to turn pro. A combination of managerial problems and injuries have limited his fight experience. It was only his third fight since 2003 and his first in 11 months. The NABO title could move him into the top-15 in WBO rankings and make him eligible for a world title bout. ''I'm 37, and if I don't do something now, I never will,'' he said. The co-feature lasted only one minute 23 seconds as Adonis Stevenson (7-0) dropped Caribbean champion Markus Thomas (10-2) with a crushing left to the body. The Montreal left-hander is to face Mark Woolnough of Qualicum, Beach, B.C. for the vacant Canadian super-middleweight title on June 8 at Uniprix tennis stadium. Two young local talents padded their experience against Mexican opponents, as junior middleweight David Lemieux (2-0) stopped Jose Luis Alvarez (2-9) at 1:06 of the second round and super-lightweight Dierry Jean (4-0) won all four rounds against Ivan Illescas (4-7). Middleweight Renan St-Juste (14-1-1) of Repentigny, Que., knocked out Christopher Henry (23-18) of Barbados 23 seconds into the fifth round of an eight-rounder. And Stephane Desormiers (16-2-1) of Terrebonne, Que., stopped American Jimmy Leblanc (12-12-4) at 2:56 of the third round of their scheduled eight-round bout. Notes - July 7 has been set for Joachim Alcine's junior lightweight challenge to WBA champion Travis Simms at a venue yet to be chosen in the American's home state of Connecticut. . . At ringside was Sebastien Demers, who leaves Monday for Bamberg, Germany, where the St-Hyacinthe, Que., native will face Arthur Abraham for the IBF middleweight belt on May 26.