Irish middleweight star Andy Lee, (31W-2L, 22KOs) is targeting a showdown with fellow Irishman Matthew Macklin, (30W-5L, 20KOs) in 2014.
Lee presently ranked WBC # 7, WBA #12 and WBO #14 believes that an all Irish barnstormer with Macklin is what boxing fans want to see.
In recent years speculation at times has been at fever pitch about the prospect of a mouth-watering Lee v Macklin encounter, with the media and public viewing the fight as a prestigious must see and not to be missed Irish boxing event.
Lee commented “Matthew and I have both fought recently, we’re both from Ireland, we’re both middleweights, we’re similarly rated, we’re both in a similar position in our careers. So let’s give the boxing public the fight they crave for and let the best man win.”
“This is a massive fight in Ireland, Boston, Chicago or New York and will pack any venue. I am ready for the fight, we both have the same promoter, Lou DiBella therefore the fight can easily be put together.”
Both fighters have recently spoken about the fight in a television interview along with other possible encounters with top UK middleweight fighters Darren Barker and Martin Murray. Talk is cheap and Team Lee are putting the ball firmly into Macklin’s court, the time for talking is over and if he wants to fight Andy Lee now is the time for the fight to be made.
Macklin has lost in 3 world title challenges, losing a split decision to WBA Champion Felix Sturm, in Germany in June 2011, being retired in the eleventh round in New York to WBC Champion Sergio Martinez in March 2012 and losing a 3rd round KO in Connecticut to Gennady Golovkin, WBA Champion in June 2013.
In June, 16 2012 Lee lost in his first world title bid, by way of a seventh round stoppage to Mexican WBC Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in El Paso, Texas.
With both fighters looking to once again get into world title contention, there is an extra edge and intrigue to a Lee v Macklin fight. The stakes are stalked high and neither fighter can afford to lose, a defining moment in their careers. It is an ‘Irish High Noon Shootout’ a winner takes all fight, where both fighters will be 100% fired up for battle with their reputations and careers on the line and with the winner taking home more than his fight purse.
Lee is now aged 29 and Macklin is aged 31, the matchmakers and bookmakers will see this as an even 50/50 fight, with both experienced fighters in their prime and each can box and bang.
Lee commented ‘ The fight would be a critical moment in both fighters’ careers, a win for either of us would propel us to a world title fight again, whoever wins the fight will go on and whoever loses the fight will have to either pack it in or start again. It is a fight I want; people talk about it all the time, so let’s make it happen.”
