Lee moves closer to title shot after technical knockout

Andy Lee moved a step closer to a European title shot with a second-round technical knockout of Mamadou Thiam at the University Arena in Limerick tonight.

Lee had bossed the opening six minutes of the middleweight bout when Thiam decided that he could not continue because of a back injury sustained in a collision with the ring post in the opening round.

It was an unsatisfactory conclusion for Lee, who had spoken all week of his desire to not only triumph but to do so in style.

He had certainly started as if intent on making a statement, using his huge height and weight advantages to great effect as he immediately set about forcing his French foe on to the back foot.

Indeed, after just 20 seconds of action Lee connected with a short, sharp right hand which sent Thiam staggering into the corner post

The 38-year-old Senegalese-born brawler did not appear to do himself any serious damage as he quickly picked himself back up onto his feet.

However, Thiam took a knee midway through the opening stanza after again being caught off balance by Lee’s right hand. Again, it looked like a knockdown but the referee once more decided otherwise, ruling it nothing more than a slip.

Lee, unperturbed, continued to dominate thereafter, controlling the fight with his lead right hand.

However, in the second, the hometown hero began to let his left hand go with increasing regularity and that, perhaps as much as the collision with the ring post, may have resulted in Thiam’s refusal to emerge from his corner for the start of the third round.

Lee, much like everyone else in attendance, was taken aback by his opponent’s early withdrawal but he was grateful for an easy night’s work in light of the gruelling nature of his points win over Affif Belghecham at the same arena last November.

“At the end of the round my brother just said to me, ‘they’re complaining over there – I think he wants to quit.’ I’d had a good round but I think he could have continued. Still, it’s good to get the stoppage," Lee, who improves to 21-1, told RTE Sport.

“I would have liked a few more rounds but it’s my job to try to get him out of there as soon as I can.

“Unfortunately, he’s hurt his back, which is a pity because it was looking like it could be a good scrap. He’d hit me with a few glancing blows but I was catching him a lot. I think speed was the big difference.

“But I want the European title now. And I want it here in Limerick. So, just bring it on. European champions, world champions – I want to fight them all. And with each win, I’m getting closer and closer.

“The guy I beat last time out (Belghecham) just fought a European title and very nearly won it so I know I belong in this class. I just need to be given the chance and then I’ll prove myself.”

Happily for Lee, his promoter Brian Peters revealed immediately after the bout that he is close to securing his charge a clash with the current European champion Darren Barker.

“Hopefully in the autumn we’ll have Andy Lee challenging Darren Barker for the title, right here in Limerick,” he said.