December tune-up for Lee

3 November 2010 – Jonny Stapleton

Irish middleweight Andy Lee will prepare for a 2011 clash against John Duddy with a bout on the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko and Dereck Chisoras heavyweight world title fight.

The Limerick southpaw will fight a yet to be named opponent in Mannheim, Germany in what his manager and trainer Emmanuel Steward is calling a tune-up for the mouth-watering all Irish clash.

Steward believes that Lees twenty-fifth paid outing will help him increase his profile on both sides of the Atlantic and further raise his contender status.

He also claims both parties have agreed to the much talked about, but yet to be official confirmed, fight between the American based Irish duo.

The legendary trainer revealed both camps are presently weighing up numerous promotional offers.

February 2 is the latest rumoured date for the career defining winner takes all fight but Lee must first emerge unscathed from his December 11 bout.

Andy will be fighting on December 11, on the under-card of Klitschko/Chisora, Steward told the Mirror. The occasion gives Andy great exposure and provides an international dimension to Andy’s boxing profile.

I see this as a tune-up fight before an encounter with John Duddy in 2011. We are presently working on making the fight as we speak. Both fighters are keen to get into the ring and square up. It is a defining moment in their careers, a winner take all fight. I’ve had offers from promoters in Ireland and the US wanting to stage the fight. So it is a case of reviewing and engaging with promoters to get the best deal before locking the fight in. I believe Andy is the most talented contender emerging in the world rankings. The middleweight division is wide open and Andy is in pole position to capitalize on this situation in 2011,’ Steward added before former Olympian Lee had his say.

This is my fifth fight this year and no better stage than a 20,000 seat stadium in Germany on the undercard of IBF, WBO and WBO Heavyweight World Champion, Wladimir Klitschko. I will be in training camp with Wladimir before the fight; he is a great role model for me, I learn so much from him. It is nice to end the year off on a fight card like this.