Lee gears up for semi-final after injury

ANDY LEE has overcome a hand injury and will contest the middleweight semi-final at the European boxing championships in Pula, Croatia, this evening.

Lee, who aggravated the injury in Wednesday’s quarter-final against Nikola Sjekola from Serbia and Montenegro, was examined by medical officials yesterday.

They are confident that the teenager, who qualified for the Olympics with the win, will be passed fit at this morning’s pre-fight medical examination.

“It’s all systems go. He’ll have the medical but I’d be very surprised if there was a problem,” High Performance Team Director, Gary Keegan said.

Lee had a pain-killing injection before Wednesday’s bout, which he won 28-20.

It has been a gruelling campaign for the 19-year-old Limerick southpaw who boxes out of the St Francis club.

He out-pointed David Tsiklarikoo 31-18, before defeating England’s Darren Barker 18-8.

Regardless of today’s result, he is guaranteed a bronze medal but, more importantly, has booked his place in Athens. Lee is adamant he will not be Ireland’s sole boxing representative next August.

“This is not a one-man team,” he said. “There are a lot of stars on this team and I expect some of them to qualify from the tournaments ahead.”

Tonight’s semi-final will be against the stylish German, Lukas Wilaschek, who was impressive in his quarter-final bout with Javid Taghiev.

Meanwhile, the finals of the national intermediate championships will be held at the National Stadium tonight.

They were postponed as the senior championships were brought forward to December to accommodate Olympic qualifying tournaments.