Lee aims to claim place in history

While literary aficionados will be celebrating Bloomsday around the world today, middleweight Andy Lee (28-1, 20 KOs) will try to add his own chapter in the tome of Irish boxing history when he challenges Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (45-0-1, 31 KOs) for his WBC title in El Paso, Texas (4am, Sunday morning, Irish time).

Lee will have to face the champion in a cauldron of Mexican support at the Sun Bowl, with over 10,000 tickets reportedly sold, mostly to Chavez Jr. supporters.

The challenger says he is ready for whatever awaits. “The camp has gone very well. Everything went to plan, I’ve sparred the rounds and I’ve run the miles. I am feeling very positive. I know that I have done the work and I am boxing the best that I have ever boxed. I have done everything I can to give myself the best chance of winning. I have no excuses.”

The Irishman is regarded as Chavez Jr.’s first true challenge as WBC champion. The Culiacan, Mexico, native is still trying to emerge from his father’s shadow. A victory over the southpaw Lee, a bona-fide contender who has real punching power and is taller than Chavez Jr., would be a major step on his road to achieving that goal.

“The only thing I am going to promise is a war, and the war is going to be won my me,” said Chavez Jr. at the press conference on Wednesday.

Chavez Jr. has improved considerably under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, who was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame last weekend. However, the legendary trainer has spent less time with his fighter during this training camp because he spent most of it working with Manny Pacquiao.

Another important factor that might have caused disruption in the Chavez Jr. camp was the falling out between Roach and strength and conditioning trainer Alex Ariza. The latter left the Pacquiao training camp in the Philippines a few weeks ago to train with Chavez Jr., but he was later fired from the team.

Whether Chavez, who has had problems making weight in recent fights, has the same level of fitness under new conditioning trainer Luis Cornejo could be a telling issue if the fight goes into the later rounds.

Lee has been preparing for the sweltering conditions (the high temperature in EL Paso today is expected to be 35-36 C) by training at the Kronk Gym in Detroit with the heat on full blast. Chavez Jr. went from 160lbs to 180lbs between the weigh-in and the first bell before his last fight, so the Castleconnell fighter sparred mainly big super middleweights to prepare for the fight.

Trainer Emanuel Steward maintains that his fighter is ready to make the next step in his career.

“Andy’s time has arrived, he has trained his entire life for this moment, and he is now ready to become the new WBC middleweight champion.

“Andy is a fighter on a mission, and with the frame of mind he has had in the gym during camp, I believe he can knock Chavez Jr. out,” he said.

Lee’s own plan to win is based on using his technical skills, gained over a long amateur and professional career, to best Chavez’ more come-forward all-action inside-fighter style.

“It’s plain and simple; box him. He is dangerous when he gets in close. If he does get in close, I need to work with him, tie him up or move off. We’ve also been working a lot on blocking shots, but I am an experienced fighter, so I will be ready.”

As Irish sports fans deal with the disappointment of the soccer team’s exit from Euro 2012, Lee hopes a title win will help lift the gloom a little.

“I have represented Ireland at amateur level and I am a good example for up-and-coming lads who can do the same or even better. I am a good example of what can come out of Ireland.”

With everything and everyone that is leaving Ireland these days, it would be great to see Lee back home soon.

Preferably with the WBC middleweight title.