Lee brought his record to 24 wins from 25 pro fights over the weekend with a fourth round KO of Troy Lowry in the headline event of the ‘Fight Night at the Horseshoe’ boxing series at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
Immediately after the 26-year-old Castleconnell man’s latest win his manager Emanuel Steward set about securing the clash against Derry’s John Duddy.
“There is a great appetite and interest amongst Irish boxing fans and boxing fans in general about a showdown between these two young talented fighters.
“Both fighters are ranked in the top 10 of the world ratings,” explained Steward.
“It has all the ingredients for an epic and classic battle.
“Styles make fights and the contrasting styles of Lee and Duddy is very evident. Andy is a technical boxer who carries a lethal punch and John is a courageous ring warrior who likes a bloody war. Both fighters have plenty of heart and can fight in the trenches when the going gets tough. It would make an unbelievable fight,” said Steward.
The legendary Kronk boxing icon believes an all-Irish war between Lee and Duddy would go down in Irish boxing history as the greatest fight ever to happen since Irish prize fighters Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney fought in the ‘Battle of the Long Count’ world title clash on September 22, 1927 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“I am very excited about trying to make the fight. It has drama and edge written all over it. It will be a memorable fight for Irish boxing fans that will go down in Irish boxing history as a classic.
“I think for both men it’s a huge fight at this stage of their careers and I believe Andy will be the victor and this will result in him moving closer to a world title shot in 2011. As far as I’m concerned Andy is the best middleweight in the division,” said Steward.
A possible date of December 4 in New York’s Madison Square Garden has already been mentioned, but it is still possible that the contest could be staged in the UL Sports Arena or in the O2 Arena, Dublin. Over the last few years speculation at times has been at fever pitch about the prospect of a Lee-Duddy encounter. Brian Peters Promotions made offers to both the Lee and Duddy camps last year to stage the fight in Limerick. However for a variety of reasons the fight did not get the go ahead. And, while his manager is working towards finalising details of the fight, Andy Lee is clear that he wants to face Duddy.
“There has never been a better time for the fight,” said the former Olympian.
“It is a fight were the stakes are stacked high and that neither fighter can afford to lose, a defining moment in our careers. It is an ‘Irish High Noon’ shootout, a winner takes all fight, where both fighters will be 100 per cent fired up for battle with their reputations and careers on the line and with the winner taking home more than his fight purse,” said Lee.
The Limerick man’s win over Troy Lowry last weekend was his second fight in just 15 days. Andy Lee knocked Lowry five times en route to being stopped at the end of the fourth round for his 19th KO of his career.
JEROME O’CONNELL
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