Lee takes care of business
It was another perfect homecoming for Lee who did everything right until the penultimate round when he was caught with some vicious left hooks to the head.
The Limerick man was in complete control until the end of the eighth round when Belgecham, who threw just one punch in the first and did precious little afterwards, stepped up a gear before coming out with all guns blazing for the ninth catching Lee with a number of solid lefts. Belghecham again went after Lee in the 10th and rocked him with a damaging hook before the former Olympian used the ring, slipped the punches and saw the fight out.
Lee said: “He flashed a couple of shots past me early on and I could tell he did not have the kind of power that would worry me too much.
“But in the last round he caught me with a good shot. I lost my concentration a bit in the eighth or ninth round. I thought I had this in the bag. Then he opened up and landed that big shot. I just said ‘cop on, stop messing around, get back to your boxing, tie him up, walk around and just see the fight out.’
“Sometimes trying to please the crowd can be your downfall.”
Lee had won every round to that point. Working from behind a solid southpaw jab he kept the 35-year-old French champion well outside the danger zone. Belghecham, four inches shorter, took everything Lee threw at him but he could not get through his opponent’s watertight defence to inflict any damage in the early rounds.
“He was fighting shallow, he was cagey and I felt he was waiting for a chance to catch me,” Lee continued. “Sometimes he was just fooling around, lying on the ropes and trying to draw me in so I had to be careful. I just could not get a rhythm with him. The way I boxed was the only way I could box him. The temptation is always there, especially when the crowd is with you, to stand and trade.
“It would have been very silly of me to do that against an opponent like that. I boxed to my strength – stayed tall and used my jab – and he could not get past the jab.
“He did not do much in the first two rounds. I think he was feeling his way, just trying to see what I was like. In the other fights I watched he was very slow starting and then he finished very strong.”
Referee Emile Teidt got it right when he awarded the 99-92 verdict to Lee who had shown all the confidence that was missing from some of his recent fights. It was his 20th victory from 21 professional fights but this was the first time he fought a man ranked above him in the ratings.
“That guy is ranked over me in the European ratings and that should move me up a bit,” Lee said.
Lee’s trainer, Joey Gamache, insisted the Limerick man is ready for a shot at a title but he will not rush things.
“Andy is young, he’s just 25, there is plenty of time so let’s not rush things,” he said. “Tonight he did everything we wanted him to do. He kept his opponent at the end of a very effective jab and he showed a lot of maturity in not allowing himself to be drawn into anything.
“He knew exactly what had to be done and he did it. It was a very good win. I am very happy with him.”
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