Lee targets European crown

ANDY LEE will fight for the European middleweight title in Limerick later this year, according to promoter Brian Peters.

Peters has promised a Lee shot at the European title against Darren Baker or whoever holds the belt in October or November. The news came after Lee defeated Mamadou Thiam by technical knockout at Yanjing Fight Night in the University Arena, Limerick on Saturday night. Thiam injured his back after three crashing falls in the first round and failed to come out for the third.

Thiam said: “I could do nothing, I could not punch as my back was in pain. I’m disappointed because I know I can beat him.”

Lee was clearly on his way to a big performance with powerful and accurate punches the hallmarks of his blistering start. He believes Thiam “took the easy way out”.

He said: “The fight is as easy or as difficult as you make it. If I had just stood in front of him and given him any encouragement it would have been a hard night’s work. I think I took his heart away by keeping him at a distance, keeping him off balance and taking a step back. If he is injured that’s too bad but I think he saw it was going to be a hard night and then he took the easy way out. I have had hard fights in the past – here in Limerick – and I proved my mettle in 10-round fights before. To get a stoppage prematurely – I would have liked a knockout – you take it when it comes. You don’t get paid overtime in there.”

Now Peters focus turns towards a shot at the European title which is held by Darren Barker who lost to Andy Lee in an Olympic qualifier back in 2004.

Peters said: “We could get four and a half or five thousand in here with a few adjustments,” he said. “It would be a fantastic fight, live on RTÉ, and I’d see it in the autumn in Limerick.”

Lee added: “He (Barker) is a nice boxer but I think everything he does I can do it a little bit better. It would be a nice fight to watch because it’s two stand-up boxers – classical boxers – he has a lot of experience and he has a lot of tricks in the bag.”

But Lee first wants to reclaim the limelight back in the States where he trains under the legendary Emanuel Steward. Lee said: “Myself and Emanuel spoke about it – we need to get back over and have some fights in the States. The last time they saw me there was the fight I lost (against Brian Vera in 2008). I fought there since but it was on a smaller show so I need to get back there.

“The European title would be nice to win but my goal has always been to be world champion. It is still my dream. Emanuel and myself have been discussing the right route to get there and we are plotting that right now.”

And Steward is intent on making Lee’s dream a reality. “The one that everybody thinks is the best one right now is Andy,” he said. “I still say this – the best middleweight in the world is right here from Limerick. If and when Andy Lee wins a world title – and he will win it – all the networks have to agree he has to fight at least one defence in Ireland.

“Whether it is going to be in Limerick or Dublin he has to defend that title here because he has got to keep his roots.”