WE WERE ALREADY excited for Andy Lee’s next fight but this new video featuring the WBO middleweight world champion has left us bouncing off the walls.
Lee will defend his belt for the first time when he takes on unbeaten Englishman Billy Joe Saunders at Thomond Park on Saturday, 19 September.
As he continues his preparations, Lee has tweeted a very cool video — entitled ‘Standing Tall’ — which includes footage of him warming up in his dressing room before his 2013 bout against Anthony Fitzgerald in Belfast, soundtracked by some deep and philosophical thoughts from the Limerick native on what it’s like to be a professional boxer.
“In life, if you have a fight on the street, it’s an instant thing because someone’s hurt you, or upset you, or injured you in some way, and it’s a reaction; pure emotion.
“But for two men to say, ‘Oh, hello, [nice to] meet you, let’s sign a contract and in six weeks we’re going to fight in a certain venue’, it’s an unnatural thing. Because there’s not that emotion, there’s not that instant there. There’s nothing personal in it. Most boxers don’t have anything personal.
“In saying that, there is an anticipation because you know the date’s there and you build towards it. And with that, the adrenaline comes because you know you’re getting closer to this one moment that you’ve been waiting for for months, and usually there’s a lot on the line; not just your health, but money and prestige.
“A fight is something that’s going to happen, it’s going to take place, and it’s going to exist for the rest of your life. It’s going to be played and replayed. It’s going to be on the internet, it’s going to be on video, and it’s only ever going to happen once but you’ll have to relive it a million times.”
The camera then follows Lee as he gets ready to make his ring-walk, with a focused look in his eyes that gives the viewer an idea of what the tension and atmosphere is like from a boxer’s point of view during those final few moments before they enter the ring.
Video: Luke Reardon
Just over five weeks to go until Andy Lee puts his belt on the line in his hometown. We’ll certainly be there, but if you plan on heading along too, tickets are still available here.
