Lee and Thiam come head to head

8 May 2010 – Press Release

The build up to Andy Lee’s clash with former European champ Mamadou Thiam on the Yanjing Fight Night on Saturday, May 15 in Limerick kicks off on Tuesday when the two men come face to face for the first time at the Crescent Shopping Centre in the city.

This free event (12pm-2pm) is open to the public and RT’s Jimmy Magee will be the master of ceremonies with the boxers also participating in a public workout with a boxing ring specially erected for the occasion in one of Ireland’s biggest shopping complexes.

Local hero Lee and French based KO artist Thiam will be greeted at The Crescent by Limerick’s Mayor Kevin Kiely with a selection of the undercard boxers also involved as the public get a chance to have a unique up close and personal look at a professional boxer’s training regime.

Limerick’s Live 95fm will broadcast from the event live with a special roadshow edition of the Afternoon show from the Crescent while the public will also have an opportunity to win tickets to the big fight.

Promoter Brian Peters believes it will give people an insight in to a professional boxer’s daily routine. “Essentially it’s about giving the public a chance to see what a professional boxer goes through on a day to day basis in training, said Peters.

Obviously everyone can see the results on fight night but people generally don’t get to see the amount of effort that these guys put in whipping themselves in to shape for a bout.

“People will even get a chance to see some good competitive sparring as well so it really should be a very interesting event and who better to MC it than the voice of Irish boxing, Mr Jimmy Magee.”

Mamadou Thiam, Lee’s opponent on Saturday week, has a fearsome reputation as one of boxing’s biggest hitters with an incredible 43 of his 46 wins coming via KO and he has vowed to make Lee victim number 44.

Castleconnell native Lee will touch down in Shannon over the weekend having completed his training camp for the fight in Florida with hall of fame trainer Emanuel Steward and Peters is predicting an explosive night of boxing.

Thiam is a very dangerous guy, he has that unique ability to end a fight in an instant because of his power so Andy will have to be at his best but I think that little bit of fear factor will bring out the best in him.

A hard hitting undercard for the Yanjing Fight Night includes World and European Champion Katie Taylor featuring in an international amateur contest while the card will also see two Irish Professional titles up for grabs for the first time ever in Limerick.

Local fan favourite Jamie Power clashes with John Waldron for the Irish Light Heavyweight title while Mayo’s Michael Sweeney will be out to end Dubliner Ian Tims unbeaten record in a grudge match for the Irish Cruiserweight title.

Undefeated Cavan star Andy Murray will be looking to continue his perfect record and follow on from his impressive win over Oisin Fagan in the main event on RT’s last Pro Box Live show. The 27-year-old lightweight has 18 straight wins to his name in the pro ranks and is currently rated number three in Europe. He faces Englishman Amir Unsworth in Limerick.

Recently crowned Irish Heavyweight Champ Coleman Barrett will also be in action. The Galway native has won all but one of his 12 pro fights to date with his only defeat coming to Olympic Gold medallist and new European Champ Audley Harrison in last year’s Prizefighter final.

Limerick fight fans will also be excited by the return of Cuban heavyweight phenomenon Mike The Rebel Perez to Shannonside. The Cork based southpaw is unbeaten in eight pro contests and in his last Limerick appearance the former World Junior amateur Champion needed just 41 seconds to chalk up another KO victory.

Perez’s compatriot Luis Garcia will also be out to impress against Germany’s Alexander Sipos, a former European title challenger who gave Andy Lee a very decent argument at The O2 in Dublin last March. Despite having had just five professional fights the 22-year-old Super Middleweight is already ranked in the world’s top 50 and has been described by many boxing insiders as a special talent and a future World Champion.

Another intriguing contest on the bill will see Mullingar’s Paddy McDonagh taking a major step up in class as he tackles former Irish Champion and Andy Lee opponent Ciaran Healy in just his third pro fight while the Limerick based Galwegian Alan Donnellon makes his professional debut in a Light Middleweight contest.

Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced 30, 40, 50, 60, 75 and 100 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie) or locally in Limerick from The University Sports Arena, the George Hotel and the South Court Hotel.