‘Masterpiece in the making’ as Lee continues his title hunt

HIS career has been sensational — his return to Ireland dramatic — and now Andy Lee has promised his Limerick homecoming on February 2, when he headlines the city’s first professional boxing show at UL Arena, will be spectacular.

Lee spent the festive season with family and friends in Limerick since his victory over Jason McKay for the Irish super middleweight title and today flies to Detroit where he will begin his preparations for his return to Shannonside.

Yesterday he was joined by some of those closest to him when he confirmed details of his upcoming fight — though an opponent has yet to be finalised — at the Hunt Museum, described by Promoter, Brian Peters, as the ideal setting as those present were looking at “a work in progress and a masterpiece in the making”.

And, just a stone’s throw from St Francis Street, where the famous St Francis ABC was founded, Lee had his first belt on show and, inevitably, the talk came around to world titles and a possible — if not inevitable — world title fight down the road.

“They are talking about it but that does not put me under any pressure,” he insisted. “I know I am not ready for it yet but I am getting there — I am going in the right direction — and if I have three or four fights within this year with some of the bigger names, I might be line for something like that.

“I know Emanuel (Steward) is in talks with HBO and they will put me on some of their big fights first — HBO After Dark and then full blown HBO — so come September I could be in the top three or four in the rankings.

“It all happens so fast. All it takes is one good victory and you are there. You are in the right position to challenge for the title.

“All I really want to do is to get myself into that position. I am not thinking about fighting for the world title. I am thinking about getting myself into pole position where I will be able to fight for the title. So my first goal is to get there and then just be ready when the time comes.”

The Limerick show is going to be something special with a six-bout undercard featuring yet another Irish middleweight sensation, Matthew Macklin, and unbeaten Belfast man Paul McCloskey, who is also a European title contender along with McKay.

As an amateur, Andy Lee gave Limerick a lift. He was only 16 and a national underage champion when he made it to the finals of the national junior championships. A couple of years later, he had a silver medal from the world junior championships around his neck. He won two Irish senior titles and was Ireland’s only boxer in the Athens Olympics.

“But my ambition has always been to box in Limerick as a pro and I am really excited about it,” he said.

“The people of Limerick have always come out and supported me so I am looking forward to a big crowd and a great atmosphere.

“I know the UL Arena so well. I trained there with the High Performance Squad when I was an amateur.

“I don’t have an opponent as yet but I am hoping for somebody with a good name who will give me a good fight.”