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Emanuel Steward expects tough fight for Ireland's Andy Lee

Hall of Fame trainer thinks his man is two fights away from the world title

By
DECLAN O'KELLY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, August 20, 2009, 9:38 AM
Updated Thursday, August 20, 2009, 10:17 AM

 

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Emanuel Steward and Andy Lee.

Hall of fame trainer Emanuel Steward says that Irish middleweight Andy Lee (18-1) is ready for his fight against Anthony Shuler (20-6-1) on Friday night, but that the Limerick fighter’s opponent will provide a much tougher challenge than most people think.

“I don’t like the fight because he is a tough fighter with no recognition. Also the fact that he is fighting at home means he is going to have a lot of people and big support,” Steward told the Irish Voice.

“When he lost to Julio Cesar Chavez Junior he was fighting in an all-Mexican crowd and he was intimidated, they told me, and he didn’t really try. But in this fight he is going to be a really difficult opponent.”

Steward and Lee, who is now ranked 14 by the WBA, are taking no chances, and their preparation for the fight at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, has been thorough.

“Andy’s camp has gone very well. He has had super boxing for the past three weeks, some of the best boxing I’ve seen any fighter have preparing for any fight,” continued Steward.

“He’s been boxing guys from cruiserweight to junior middleweight.  He’s been boxing Aaron Pryor Junior and also Dominique Dalton, a very good undefeated junior middleweight, and J’leon Love. Remember, before this, his sparring partner was Wladimir Klitschko,” added Steward, referring to the fact that Lee became the Ukrainian’s principal sparring partner while the heavyweight champion got ready for the for the Ruslan Chagaev fight.

Matthew Macklin (24-2), who fights for the European middleweight title on September 25 against Amin Asikainen (26-2), said last week he would like to fight Lee if he beats the Finn.  When asked if this was a bout that would interest him, Steward, who acts as Lee’s manager as well as trainer, told the Irish Voice where his fighter’s priorities are.

“Matthew is a good fighter, but let me be very honest, that is not in our scope.  It's really good for Matthew and maybe good for Brian (Peters, Macklin’s manager),” he said

“Andy is on the verge of fighting for the championship of the world.  He’s been working hard for three or four years, and there is talk with one of the rating (boxing) organizations of the world that if he gets two wins he will be fighting for the world title.”

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