Andy Lee wins, Matthew Macklin calls him out

Lee defeats Fitzgerald in Belfast last weekend

Andy Lee’s points win over Anthony Fitzgerald at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday night was swiftly followed by an ultimatum from fellow middleweight contender Matthew Macklin to fight him on May 11 at Madison Square Garden.

Comments Lee (29-2, 20 KOs) made in an interview with iFilm London last Friday appear to have stoked the fire in Macklin.  While talking about possible fights with the likes of Darren Barker, Martin Murray and Macklin, Lee said the following, “I think he (Macklin) would be one of the easier fights for me.” On Monday, Macklin issued a press release calling out the Limerick native to fight this spring.

“Lou (DiBella) has a HBO television date for May 11 and I know he wants to match myself and Andy on that show. We're both promoted by Lou, so as Andy himself said, there are no obstacles to making the fight,” said Macklin.

“It could be made in five minutes, Lou has a TV date for it and I want the fight so the only question is, does Andy really want it, or does he just want to be seen to want it?”

The Irish Voice reached out to DiBella to ask if the HBO date in May was confirmed and if Macklin/Lee would be an acceptable fight for the network.  We also asked if Macklin’s renewed interest in Lee was down to the fact that, so far, DiBella has not been able to secure a fight for Macklin with any of his primary targets, IBF champion Daniel Geale or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. 

DiBella Entertainment, via PR director Kevin Rooney, informed the Irish Voice that DiBella was unable to comment on the situation before presstime.

Last week Lee told the Irish Voice that he saw no reason why a fight with Macklin could not be made this year.  Both men feel they have the measure of each other, and Macklin reiterated that point in his statement.

“He's a decent boxer, but privately he and the people around him have always known that I have his number,” said Macklin.

“I've already told Lou that I'm happy to take the fight, so if Andy wants it all he has to do is call Lou and we can get it on. Otherwise he needs to stop talking about a fight he's afraid to take and get on with his own career.”

Lee’s primary goal since relocating to London was to challenge the likes of Macklin, Barker and Murray.  In the immediate aftermath of his win, Lee called out Barker ringside as his next possible opponent.  

Lee and Macklin avoided each other in recent years because they were on separate paths to a world title shot. Now, while Macklin is ahead of Lee in terms of the middleweight pecking order, if the former cannot secure another fight with a belt holder or Chavez then one of the most high profile fights in the U.S. is against Lee.

Lee went on Newstalk’s Off the Ball radio show on Monday evening to reiterate that he wants to fight Macklin, but he added that he might need time to work with his new trainer before taking on that challenge.

“Ideally I would like maybe another one or two fights with Adam (Booth) as trainer before I fight Matthew Macklin,” Lee said.

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Nster.com