THERE were no howling epithets at The O2 on Saturday night for Andy Lee, just solemn contentment at business smartly done after the Limerick southpaw saw off the challenge of Germany’s Alex Sipos in front of a 9,000-strong crowd in Dublin.
Referee Emile Tiedt scored the contest 99-91 in favour of the Castleconnell middleweight and although Andy Lee always looked comfortable Sipos did present the Limerick man with a tricky obstacle to surmount.
In the immediate aftermath of his 17th professional win Andy Lee was relieved to earn the referee’s decision: “That was as tough as I expected. Alex is tough and has a lot of pride. He’s a hard fighter and he forced me back.
“The ten rounds will stand to me and I will move on from here. I was very rusty because of the long lay off, but there are no excuses. Thankfully I won the fight so it’s onwards and upwards from here.”
Andy Lee had not stepped into the ring since defeating Willie Gibbs in the UL Arena on July 19 last and had spent the intervening months nursing a troublesome cut over his right eye which required surgery. And, the Lee corner, led by Emanuel Steward, were concerned when Andy sustained another cut over that right eye as early as the opening round on Saturday night.
“I thought he (Alex Sipos) fought a good fight,” explained Emanuel Steward.
“We knew it was going to be tough. Sipos is a strong fighter, who keeps his hands up high and makes it very difficult.
“We were concerned about the cut over Andy’s eye so considering everything we’re very happy to get away with this victory.”
Saturday’s bout marked the one-year anniversary of Andy Lee’s only defeat in the professional ranks - on March 21, 2008 Lee suffered his first defeat (TKO) at the hands of Brian Vera. So defeat against Sipos was unthinkable for Lee who weighed in at a sturdy 11 stone eight pounds.
Lee had planned to take on Antwun Echols in Madison Square Garden on March 16, but that bout was cancelled at the last minute. Ironically Alex Sipos proved a much more able opponent than Echols - Sipos won a World Military gold medal and also challenged for the European middleweight title as a pro.
After an eight-month lay-off Andy Lee looked rusty in the opening round and although he caught Sipos with a good left hand the German recovered to connect with a barrage late in the round which left the Limerick man nursing a cut over his right eye.
Lee steadied himself in the second round however and proceeded to take control of the fight keeping the physically powerful Sipos at bay with a stinging right jab.
The third and fourth rounds followed a predictable pattern with Lee in complete control.
Sipos looked a one-dimensional fighter, but he did catch Lee with a dangerous left in the fifth round.
Andy Lee regained control in the sixth and dropped Sipos with a stunning right hook late in the round - Sipos survived referee Emile Tiedt’s standing eight count.
Sipos struggled through round seven and eight, but rallied significantly in the last two rounds of this ten-round contest.
The German charged forward in search of a knockout and although he caught Lee with several dangerous right hands the Limerick man never looked in any real danger.
Brian McDonnell
Showing posts with label bernard dunne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bernard dunne. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
‘I need to get back into the ring and get busy’
ON March 21 last year Andy Lee’s pro-boxing career was knocked off course when Brian Vera stunned the Castleconnell man in a fight that was supposed to launch the Limerick middleweight’s bid for a world title fight. Exactly one year later the 24-year-old former St. Francis Boxing Club Olympian relaunches his career this Saturday night as the chief support bout for Bernard Dunne’s world title fight in The O2 in Dublin.
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
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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