By Rick Reeno

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas - Former IBF middleweight world champion David Lemieux (35-3, 32 KOs) easily battered Glen "Jersey Boy" Tapia (23-3, 15 KOs) for a fourth round stoppage win.

Lemieux was coming forward with Tapia working the jab, staying defensive and staying on his toes. Lemieux was looking for something big right at the start with his punches flying to the head and body. Tapia's nose was bleeding by the end of the round.

Lemieux continued to control the entire fight in the second. He was throwing a lot of punches and not much of anything was coming back. Lemieux was walking Tapia down with big shots to the head and body. Tapia was starting to get beat up.

Th third was more of the same. Lemieux was letting his hands go, fighting very aggressive and pressing an overmatched Tapia, who had little pop on his punches at the new weight. Tapia was landing punches here and there, but Lemieux was walking right through them with no effect.

Early in the fourth, Tapia finally went down after Lemieux unloaded a series of punches, Tapia got up and his corner threw in the towel - which stopped the fight and the beating Tapia was taking.