ANDY LEE HAS set himself one very important new year’s resolution — to win a world title in 2012.
Three wins from three saw the Limerick boxer (27-1, 19 KOs) rise through the world middleweight rankings last year and now Lee believes that he is just one win away from landing his shot at one of boxing’s champions.
The 27-year-old will face an unnamed opponent on 17 March as part of a St Patrick’s Day card in Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, where a win could see him installed as the mandatory challenger for one of the middleweight belts.
And as he begins preparations for his return to the ring, Lee clearly feels that 2012 will be his year.
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“I am 28 this June with nearly 30 fights under my belt; I have grown as a fighter and I am now ready and prepared to challenge for and win a world title,” Lee said.
“It is every boxer’s ambition to be a world champion and I believe this is my year.
I have positioned myself nicely in the world ratings as a legitimate world title contender. In boxing what you want, what you deserve and what you get are all different things. Boxing is a business as well as a sport and sometimes things come down to timing and being in the right place at the right time. I believe I am at that juncture in my career and I am more than ready for a title shot.
With a number of middleweight title contests already fixed for February and March, Lee will most likely have to wait until the second half of the year before stepping up to the main event.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr defends his WBC belt against Marco Antonio Rubio on 4 February, Daniel Geale will have a mandatory defence of his IBF belt on March 7, and Sergio Martinez is due to defend his WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine belts against Matthew Macklin on March 17.
“After my fight on March 17, I want to move up the WBC ratings and capture the number one spot as the mandatory challenger to the WBC title,” Lee said.
“I would relish the opportunity to fight Martinez, Chavez Jr, Rubio, Macklin or Geale in a championship fight. I have the skills and power to beat any of them.”
Lee’s trainer Emanuel Steward also endorsed his man’s title credentials, promising that the southpaw will give champions “all the trouble they want” in the ring.
“Andy is in the prime of his life and given the opportunity will give champions like Sergio Martinez and Julio Chavez Jr all the trouble they want,” Steward said.
“He is a superior technical boxer who can punch with both hands. No matter what fight Andy Lee is in he has the fans on the edge of their seats.”
'This is my year': Andy Lee targets world title in 2012
ANDY LEE HAS set himself one very important new year’s resolution — to win a world title in 2012.
Three wins from three saw the Limerick boxer (27-1, 19 KOs) rise through the world middleweight rankings last year and now Lee believes that he is just one win away from landing his shot at one of boxing’s champions.
The 27-year-old will face an unnamed opponent on 17 March as part of a St Patrick’s Day card in Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, where a win could see him installed as the mandatory challenger for one of the middleweight belts.
And as he begins preparations for his return to the ring, Lee clearly feels that 2012 will be his year.
“I am 28 this June with nearly 30 fights under my belt; I have grown as a fighter and I am now ready and prepared to challenge for and win a world title,” Lee said.
“It is every boxer’s ambition to be a world champion and I believe this is my year.
With a number of middleweight title contests already fixed for February and March, Lee will most likely have to wait until the second half of the year before stepping up to the main event.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr defends his WBC belt against Marco Antonio Rubio on 4 February, Daniel Geale will have a mandatory defence of his IBF belt on March 7, and Sergio Martinez is due to defend his WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine belts against Matthew Macklin on March 17.
“After my fight on March 17, I want to move up the WBC ratings and capture the number one spot as the mandatory challenger to the WBC title,” Lee said.
“I would relish the opportunity to fight Martinez, Chavez Jr, Rubio, Macklin or Geale in a championship fight. I have the skills and power to beat any of them.”
Lee’s trainer Emanuel Steward also endorsed his man’s title credentials, promising that the southpaw will give champions “all the trouble they want” in the ring.
“Andy is in the prime of his life and given the opportunity will give champions like Sergio Martinez and Julio Chavez Jr all the trouble they want,” Steward said.
“He is a superior technical boxer who can punch with both hands. No matter what fight Andy Lee is in he has the fans on the edge of their seats.”
Here’s your early contender for sports picture of 2012…
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Andy Lee Boxing Daniel Geale Emanuel Steward Fight Club Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Marco Antonio Rubio Matthew Macklin Sergio Martinez