Lee will face former European title challenger, Alex Sipos, on the undercard of the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night - Andy Lee was a late addition to an already packed O2 line-up after a scheduled headline appearance at Madison Square Garden fell through; coverage of the historic night of boxing, before a 9,000 capacity crowd, will be carried live on RTE Two.
TV coverage starts at 9.00pm with Women’s World and European amateur champ Katie Taylor and Andy Lee fighting live before the main event - the Limerick boxer is expected in the ring at around 9.40pm.
“It’s a long time since I fought and I need to get back into the ring and get busy,” Andy Lee told Leader Sport this Monday after a workout at the National Boxing Stadium.
“Every fight is big, but this is a big one because I have not fought in while. This is going to be one of the hardest fights of my career,” said Andy Lee, who is well aware of his opponent.
Since losing to Vera last March, Lee has fought just once - a July stoppage of Willie Gibbs in UL.
In advance of that fight Lee and Sipos sparred at a Wladimir Klitschko training camp in Austria. The German has 19 wins and two draws from his 26 pro outings and his only stoppage defeat came courtesy of an elbow injury.
“We sparred maybe three or four times and he is very tough.
“He has a very awkward style and has a very tight defence,” said Lee of his Munich opponent.
Despite not entering the ring in eight months Lee dispels any thought that he may be rusty.
“I have been out for so long, but I have done a lot of sparring.”
Lee’s long absence from the ring was to allow for surgery to a persistent eye injury.
“I have sparred plenty and everything has held up ok,” the southpaw says of that injury.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader on Monday Lee sighed at the thoughts that he should be preparing to box in Madison Square Garden on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.
“After the cancellation of the New York fight, there was great disappointment,” he said.
“After waiting so long for a fight and then when it was cancelled I was left not knowing what was happening for a few days until everything was agreed with Brian Peters.”
Saturday is Ireland’s first world title fight in 13 years - a fact not lost on Lee: “It is good to be part of it. I am looking forward to it - it will be a historic night for Irish boxing and it will be a night that people will remember.”
Brian Peters Promotions are expecting a 9,000 sell-out.
“I have fought in The Garden in front of big crowds, but I was early on the cards and I fought in Vegas, but this will certainly be the most enthusiastic support - it will be 9,000 Irish fans screaming and roaring,” said Andy Lee of Ireland’s biggest pro-boxing night since the Collins v Eubank rematch in Millstreet.
“To be fighting on the undercard to Bernard Dunne in his quest to win a world title in Dublin is a great honour for me.
“The Irish are the best sport supporters in the world, the atmosphere will be electrifying and it will be a memorable occasion with it being the first world title fight in Ireland in 13 years.”
Saturday will be Lee’s 17th pro fight and after kick-starting his career he hopes to spend some time in Limerick before returning back to Detroit’s Kronk Gym.
“There are a few things in the pipeline, but I will just take Saturday night first,” said Lee of the remainder of 2009.
“My plans for the rest of 2009 is to advance my career with developmental fights taking me to the next level of being in the top 10 of the world ratings.
“Although my career is based in America, I relish the opportunity of fighting at home. But it’s fight one fight at a time and my focus is now firmly on March 21.”
Jerome O'Connell
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