Lee – I’d fight Fitz

23 April 2011 – Jonny Stapleton

Andy Lee has told fellow Irish middleweight Anthony Fitzgerald to get in touch if he wants to get it on.

Fitzgerald, who this week was granted a top 15 world ranking by the WBA, has been much maligned for continuously calling out the American based contender, as some pundits and fans suggest he has done little to earn a shot at the Lou Di Bella promoted fighter. However, speaking to Mirror Sport yesterday the Limerick man confirmed he wants to fight the EBA middleweight champion in the second of two keep busy bouts before he returns to big time action on HBO in the autumn.

Lee, who hopes to rectify his only career blemish by fighting Brian Vera latter in the year, will appear on a Rose Mount Chicago bill against a yet to be named opponent on May 18. After that bout the Kronk fighter, who registered a dramatic come from behind stoppage win over the previously undefeated Craig McEwan last time out, wants one more clash before his big time TV return, which will most likely be a world title eliminator against Vera.

And the Emmauel Steward trained former Olympian, who seen an all Ireland middleweight clash with John Duddy fall down earlier in the year, wants that bout to be at home and has told Fitzgeralds people to get in touch re a possible summer clash.

I’m fighting May 18th in Rose Mount, Chicago. I don’t have a confirmed opponent yet but it should be settled in the next day or two. After the McEwan fight I had two weeks off but I’ve been training hard since. HBO have said they want me back on TV but not until late August or September. So until then I’m hoping to have two stay busy fights, Lee told Mirror Sport before suggesting he would like one of those fights to be against Fitzgerald.

One of those fights is obviously May 18 but I would like another, maybe in July and then a big fight on HBO possibly against Vera. I’d like to fight in Ireland in July, but I’m not sure how things are there with RTE. Maybe we can talk to Brian Peters and see if wants to put on a show. I wouldn’t mind fighting Anthony Fitzgerald, if he’s up for it like he’s been saying he is. If he is then his people should get in touch with Emanuel and we’ll get it on, the contender added before discussing a fight Texan Vera claims is all but made.

I’m not sure where the Vera fight is in terms of being made, I’ve expressed to my Promoter Lou Di Bella that I want the fight but it’s really up to him and Vera’s management if it gets made.

Elsewhere Patrick Pajo Hyland will grace the ring next week on the undercard of Darren Barker’s European title challenge. The middle of the three champion brothers Patrick Hyland will fight a yet to be named opponent in London before appearing on a show promoted by his father in the National Stadium latter in the Summer.

The date of that Hyland fling looks set to be changed due to the fact Andy Murray is due to challenge for the European lightweight title in the same month. Another Irish fight suffering a date change in a big title fight is Matthew Macklin. Mack the Knifes world title fight with Felix Strum has been moved to June 25.