Lee gearing up for ‘rough’ French test
The Limerick southpaw chose Thomond Park for the press conference to announce details of the Yanjing Fight Night because it is there that he hopes to box for a European title or, indeed, a world title at the first available opportunity.
The names of Matthew Macklin and John Duddy were probably mentioned more times than his upcoming opponent at yesterday’s gathering when Lee insisted he would relish the chance to fight either of them.
Macklin is protecting his newly won European middleweight belt while Duddy, who got his career back on track at the weekend, has a number of big engagements coming up and turned down the offer for this fight from Damian McCann, who works alongside Lee’s manager, Emanuel Steward, and insists the fight will happen eventually.
“It’s all about the timing,” Lee said. “We are all at different stages in our careers. John Duddy is rebuilding from a loss. He is very popular in America and his popularity is his main negotiating point. Matthew Macklin has European and British titles and is working ahead to world titles.
“I am trying to get to that stage. I think eventually there will be some crossroads where we are going to meet. It would be a shame if it did not happen.”
However, there was a more pressing engagement on Lee’s mind. After all he was in his native city on a one-day visit from New York, where he is now based, to promote what he insisted is the most important fight of his career.
That’s against a man who is the current EU champion and stands above the Lee in all the rankings. A win over Belghecham would catapult the Limerick man into the top 10 in Europe and also shoot him up the world lists.
“He is a tough opponent,” Lee said. “I have watched him. This is not a hand-picked opponent. A lot of guys out there have had handy fights. This is not an easy fight. This guy is way ahead of me in the ratings. He is experienced. He has two titles – French and European Union champion – and he has never been stopped so he’s going to give me a rough night.”
Brian Peters said that while it will not be a final eliminator for a shot at Matthew Macklin’s European title, it will certainly be an eliminator.
“I have been speaking to the EBU – it will certainly be an eliminator,” Peters said. “A final eliminator? Probably not. Apart from Kelly Pavlic, the world ratings are very much dominated by Europeans.
“I believe that Andy Lee, in the next 16 to 18 months, will be fighting the European champion and hopefully it can be staged here in Thomond Park and world title, who knows, you saw what Matthew Macklin did.”
Lee’s only loss to date was to Brian Vera in Uncasville, in March of last year and when this fight was being put together, Vera was the first opponent they went after. Unfortunately, Vera was unable to accept the offer for contractual reasons. That was before they offered the fight to John Duddy. Now Lee not only wants to win but he wants to impress.
“I want to win and look good winning,” he said. “Matthew Macklin knocked his man down in the first round and everyone was blown away because everyone was expecting a tough fight.
“If I win and look good winning and do a good job on this guy then I could really be in the pitch. That’s the real motivation. He is ahead of me in the ratings. I am 14 now and if I beat him I’ll be in the top 10.
“He is one of the top fighters and he is a possible future opponent so it will be good to measure myself against him,” Lee said.
The fight will be staged on the night of Ireland’s world cup play-off when RTÉ will put another exciting day-long sports package together for viewers.
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