MONTREAL - Eight months after tasting defeat for the first time in his professional career, David Lemieux said he's ready to jump back into the ring as the Fast and Furious boxing series continues at the Bell Centre Saturday.

"I did all the work I needed to do in the gym... If I have to do 12 rounds, I will gladly do them, and I will be in shape and ready to explode from the first to the last (round)," said middleweight fighter Lemieux (25-1-0, 24 KOs), whose bout against Joachim Alcine (32-2-1, 19 KOs) will headline the 10 fights Saturday.

Since losing to Marco Antonio Rubio in April, 22-year-old Lemieux has made significant changes to his training regimen.

"I'd say my nutrition has been the biggest change. The method of training has been a very big change and very much to my liking. It's very hard," he said.

The change is thanks to new trainer Marc Ramsay, who has brought Lemieux renewed dedication and focus.

"I think he has some physical capacity that we haven't seen. I think we've only seen half of what he's capable of. Everybody sees David Lemieux as an animal. Just be patient and you'll see what's going to happen on the 10th," said Ramsay.

Alcine, at age 35, said he also needs this victory badly, but for different reasons.

"Trust me, the 10th of December will be just open doors for me. David Lemieux is number 3 in the world right now and I will get his spot, and after this we'll talk about the title fight," he said.

Once the World Boxing Association super welterweight champion of the world, Alcine has only won two of his last five fights, but after a strong training camp, he promises to show fans flashes of his heyday in 2007.

"He's going to find out that 22 is just a number and 35 is just a number. I believe I'm 19 years old, but with a lot of experience and a lot of wisdom. You can see it right here," he said, scratching his grey whiskers and flashing a smile.

Regardless of who wins the fight, it's sure to be a solid matchup and great entertainment at the Bell Centre Saturday, said boxing promoter Yvon Michel

"It's a very, very significant fight for here in Montreal but also at the international level. All the ingredients for a great fight are there," he said.