Andy Lee returns to the ring on Friday night

ANDY Lee has boxed just twice in 2010, but now he is to face into two fights in 15 days. The 26-year-old Limerick pro-boxer will be back in the ring this Friday (September 17) when he fights Michael Walker at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
The Castleconnell middleweight will headline the ten-fight card with a ten-round contest against Walker who is a home town favourite. Thirty-two-year-old Walker has 19 wins from his 25 professional fights, but has suffered losses in his last three contests. Walker has only fought twice in 2010 and only had one fight in 2009.
Although Walker’s recent record points to a Lee win the Limerick man is taking nothing for granted.
“Michael Walker is no push over. I will have to be on top of my game, especially fighting him in his home town. He will try and train even harder for this fight, but I’ll be ready for him,” said Andy Lee.
“I know him well. I’ve watched him fight a few times and know his style. He’s a tough, rugged, aggressive fighter, but he is short and one paced so I will use my height and speed and look to out box him,” explained Lee.
“I’d like to fight for a world title next year, but I’m not looking past Michael Walker.
“I’ve seen a few of his fights and I know how tough he is, plus I know that fighting at home will be important for him as it is for me when I fight in Ireland. I’m looking forward to getting into the ring on Friday night and have been doing a lot of sparring in the gym in Detroit.
“Michael Walker is an experienced fighter, he will have his job to do and I will have mine, but I aim to come out on top,” added Lee.
“We’ve gotten some great sparring here with Anthony Dirrell and James Countryman. Chicago is a terrific city with a huge Irish population and I’m looking forward to fighting there on September 17.”
If the former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian is successful on Friday he could be back in action just two weeks later with an October 2 date provisionally marked into his diary. That bout will take place in the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana - a venue where Lee defeated Anthony Shuler in August 2009.
“I have to say it’s great to be back in action so soon.
“I need to keep busy, after only fighting twice so far this year it will serve me well to stay active,” added Andy Lee.
He manager Emmanuel Steward confirmed that there are hectic times ahead for the Limerick pro-boxer: “I’m keen to keep Andy busy and have planned fights for him in the coming months. Andy is now ranked fifth in the European rankings and ninth in the WBA rankings and in the first half of 2011 Andy will be primed and ready to challenge for a world title. The division is now wide open with new young talent coming through and Andy has all the qualities and tools a fighter needs to win a world title.”
Andy Lee’s record now stands at 21 wins from 22 fights with 16 kos. While the Detroit-based boxer has been busy of late, he still awaits an opportunity of a big-time fight.

Boxing Exhibition
Olympian John Joe Joyce is the star attraction this Friday night when a top Irish boxing selection will take on a star-studded Eastern European team in the South Court Hotel.
There will be five local boxers on the card with two-time Irish champion Mark McNamara boxing Polish middleweight champion Gromadzki Tomasz. McNamara has boxed for Ireland at four different levels from Youth to Senior and is currently sparring unbeaten professional boxer Alan Donnellan in preparation for the event. Polish national Kris Sikora now boxing out of the St Francis club will box at light heavyweight against Ukraine champion Orekhovskyy Fedir.
Local Munster champions Ger Griffin (Corpus Christi) and Derek Duhig (St. Francis) will kick the night off in a rematch of a top contest won by Griffin at the end of last season.
One of the more intriguing contests will see current Irish intermediate champion Jessie Lyons (St. Francis) facing up to Irish Junior champion Ciara Doyle from Wexford. The Irish side has been organised by St Francis coach Ken Moore and all eight are national champions.
“I got the call six weeks ago and was asked if I could put together a team of boxers good enough to take on this top European selection.
“When I saw the names involved I was a little taken back by the level of opposition would be travelling so I started making calls and got eight really talented guys to box for me,” said Moore.
“Each Irish lad is of top quality and to have two national senior champions in Con Sheehan and John Joe Joyce on the card is brilliant - Joyce was actually born in Limerick a fact I remind him of every chance I get!” said Moore.
“This is top show and anyone interested in boxing or just top quality sport should not miss it. Tickets are on sale and going fast. Limerick boxing is on a high at the moment - last season we won more Irish titles than ever before Andy Lee and Willie Casey are doing great things as professionals and this show is just another big thing to happen to Limerick boxing.”
Tickets for the night are €20 and can be got at the South Court Hotel and on www.ticketgroup.ie

Jerome O’Connell