Lee eyeing Macklin showdown

ANDY LEE would relish a title fight with European middleweight champion Matthew Macklin in Thomond Park next year.

Lee revealed: “We had a little chat in the lift on Saturday saying ‘let’s get it on and that type of thing’ and we shook hands.

“But it’s a natural fight and I am sure it would be a big draw here.

“When we fight each other it’s going to be a big fight and it would be nice to have the financial rewards – even a European title fight would be a great fight. Maybe next July or August in Thomond Park. That would be fantastic for both of us.

“We both know the risks and the benefits. But it has to be financially rewarding to match the risk of the fight. If I was to lose to Matthew or he was to lose to me it would be very hard to come back from that.

“There are a lot of possibilities out there, especially in Europe now. You have IBF champion, Sebastian Sylvester, Sebastian Zidic is interim WBC champion and he is German-based, Felix Sturm is the WBA champion, and then Matthew (Macklin) obviously, the European champion. So the middleweight scene, outside of Kelly Pavlik, is all European-based. So it is good to have a foothold in the ratings.”

Last August, Macklin, who played minor hurling for Tipperary, expressed hope that he and Lee would square off at some point.

He said: “That would be great fight for Irish fans. To have a major belt like a European title on the line would make it a massive occasion. Andy is a good fighter and a decent lad but business is business and if I’m European champ then I think it is a fight that makes real sense.”