Boxing:A European title bout is next on the cards for Andy Lee after his routine two-round win over Mamadou Thiam in the Limerick Sports Arena. The Detroit-based middleweight was declared the victor after his Senegalese opponent retired complaining of a back injury, but there was little doubt as to who was the classier fighter in the preceding six minutes.
Lee was sharp and accurate with his jabs and a superb right off the back foot sent his forced the referee to intervene in the first round.
It was more of the same in the second, with Lee landed a neat uppercut and Thiam failing to respond, save for some wild overhand rights.
Next up for Lee could be European champion Darren Barker in October or November, said promoter Brian Peters afterwards.
Lee, however, is looking further ahead, and said he and his trainer Emanuel Steward are working towards that.
“The European title would be nice to win but my goal has always been to be world champion,” he said. “It is still my dream. Emanuel and myself have been discussing the right route to get there and we are plotting that right now.
“He (Darren Barker) is a nice boxer but I think everything he does I can do it a little bit better and I am stronger than him. It would be a nice fight for boxing fans to watch because it’s two stand-up boxers – classical boxers – he has a lot of experience and he has a lot of tricks in the bag.
“Myself and Emanuel spoke about it – we need to get back over and have some fights in the States. The last time they really saw me there was the fight I lost. I fought there since but it was on a smaller show. I need to get back there.”
That defeat against Brian Vera, said Steward, was a one-off.
“That guy passed up $250,00 for a rematch. He wouldn’t make a sparring partner. I still say this – the best middleweight in the world is right here from Limerick. He lost one fight – that’s all – and everybody loses a fight.”