Lee inpresses in Irish title win

Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward boldly claimed that his top prospect Andy Lee will fight any middleweight in the world after he saw off John McKay to claim the Irish super middleweight title last night.

Lee turned on the style to score a TKO win over McKay at a packed out National Stadium in Dublin, moving him a step closer to a possible world title clash against American star Kelly Pavlik.

McKay's corner withdrew their fighter after the sixth round - the Banbridge man put in a brave effort but Lee held all the aces and was just too much for his older opponent to handle.

Lee got on top in the opening rounds with McKay struggling to cope with the 23-year-old's southpaw style and powerful right-handed jabs.

The second round was perhaps McKay's worst of the scheduled ten-rounder as he was floored by a powerful right hook from Lee and also began to bleed from his forehead following an accidental clash of heads.

McKay, who was trying to protect his own unbeaten record, managed to get inside Lee's defence in the third round and registered with a stinging right hand.

A cut near his left eye looked like it might be problematic for Lee but his corner coped with it well and the Limerick man, an Olympian in 2004, showed he was in fine fettle in round five, throwing in some showboating and an Ali-esque shuffle much to the delight of the crowd.

McKay was wilting as the rounds went on and the ever-accurate Lee had his opponent in trouble with a series of blows to the head. A right-left combination sent McKay's gumshield hurtling to the canvas and referee Emile Tiedt was quick to step in.

The bell came soon after and while McKay looked set to take a breather and come back for more, his corner thought otherwise and the fight was conceded.

Thrilled by the 14th straight win of his professional career, Lee is determined to not only bring big-time boxing to his native Limerick but also deliver a world title.

He beamed: "It's my dream to get off the plane at Shannon and walk down O'Connell Street and meet the people of Limerick with the WBC belt."

Promoter Brian Peters said that Lee is pencilled in to fight in Limerick early next year and the youngster's famed trainer Emanuel Steward believes his charge is ready now to challenge the best in the world.

A confident Steward predicted: "Andy Lee will beat Kelly Pavlik to become middleweight champion of the world. I've no doubt about that.

"(John) Duddy may not want to fight Pavlik just yet but Andy Lee will fight any middleweight in the world today."