There is a deficit situation within the middleweight division with a lack of viable foes available to meet with WBA middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin, the smiling assassin from Kazakhstan who boasts a boyish grin and satanic fists.

Two hitters that are on the short list among some wise heads within the sport, seen as boxers who could conceivably test “Good Boy” are Hassan N’Dam and David Lemieux.

N’Dam is a Cameroon-born boxer with solid pugilism skills and ability to be a ring general and Lemieux’s perceived chance to derail the Golovkin express comes from his pop factor, the ability he holds to do damage with either hand.

N’Dam is ranked No. 1 at 160 by the IBF and the Canadian Lemieux is No. 4 and the New Jersey-based sanctioning body ruled they should clash for the title, which was left vacant when former champion Jermain Taylor became detained by legal and psychological issues.

It certainly appears N’Dam and Lemieux are slated to have a showdown and prove whose head, shoulders and fists are a cut above. N’Dam is managed by Gary Hyde and promoted by Michael King’s company, King Sports Worldwide while Lemieux is managed by Camille Estephan and recently signed on with Golden Boy Promotions. No terms were settled on between all parties, who have gone back and forth since mid-February, so the IBF has asked that a purse bid be held, on Tuesday, April 7. Bids must be submitted at 11:45 AM by any party wishing to promote the fight and the bids will be opened 15 minutes afterward.

We will know more on that scrap, which likely would unfold in Montreal – and perhaps screen on HBO – soon after.

Michael Woods can be found in Brooklyn and on Twitter.