Boxing:Andy Lee did his burgeoning reputation in the United States no harm at all with another all-action display as he defeated Alex Bunema by a unanimous decision in Chicago last night.
The Limerick middleweight, still waiting for a world title shot, dictated the action throughout and used his jab to devastating effect as he all 10 rounds on the judges scorecards.
The durable Bunema offered little in return, throwing flurries of punches in sporadic bursts, but despite picking up the tempo as the fight progressed Lee was unable to put him on the canvas.
“When the guy just wants to survive, it’s very hard to knock him out,” said Lee after the fight. “I kept telling my corner I want a KO, but they said I was boxing beautifully.”
Meanwhile, newly-crowned WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly lit the touchpaper for Saturday’s grudge match with British rival Tony Bellew in an explosive press conference which saw the pair nearly come to blows.
Cleverly will face Liverpudlian Bellew after Juergen Braehmer, who he had been set to challenge for the WBO belt, pulled out of the O2 Arena bout and was stripped of his title. Cleverly was subsequently upgraded from ‘interim’ champion, and for his first defence promoter Frank Warren gave a chance to unbeaten Commonwealth champion Bellew.
The two are long-time rivals and sparks flew when they came face-to-face in London today. Bellew arrived at the press conference late but immediately started insulting Welshman Cleverly and security guards had to intervene as the banter turned nasty.
“I’ll give you a free punch,” Cleverly taunted.
Hot-tempered Bellew reacted, threatening to put the Welshman “in an ambulance”, spitting expletives and repeatedly calling Cleverly “a f****** rat” when the champion offered to take the matter outside. Security guards then had to step in to physically pull the two men apart.
Cleverly, who had some choice obscenities of his own, said: “He is not as good as Braehmer. Braehmer was the champion, he was proven. But I’ll only call myself the world champion when I win on Saturday night.”