Andy Lee aiming for European Title

[Faulks]

By Dan Fitz-Simons: On May 15th Andy Lee 20-1 (14KOs) will take on Mamadou (“Dou-Dou”) Thiam in his fourth professional bout in Limerick, Ireland. Thiam was born in Senegal but fights out of France with a record of 46-8 (43 KOs). He has 54 professional fights under his belt and several credible opponents on his resume including: Felix Trinidad, Sebastien Demers, and Sergiy Dzinziruk. Even more troubling for Lee is the fact that Dou-Dou has a 79.63% knockout rate. Thiam can bang, and if Andy zigs when he should have zagged, Dou-Dou will be in his face making him pay, possibly with a knockout. Team Lee will have to draw up a carefully prepared strategy to defeat the seasoned Senegalese warrior.

 

A number of troubling issues also surfaced during Lee’s last bout against Affif Belghcham, including his stamina. Andy appeared to run out of gas and was wobbled in the last round. He later said he had trouble focusing, but the fact that his handlers hired Mark Stallman, a strength and conditioning expert, supports the view that there was indeed a stamina problem. It’s possible that both the stamina and focus issues were tied to the absence of Manny Steward in Lee’s corner. Rumors had it that Steward and Lee had a spat. Andy then left the Kronk Gym in Detroit to train in New York under Manny’s assistant, Joey Gamache. However, the word now is that Manny and Andy have patched up the rift.

 

Lee has an impressive KO record of his own, taking out two thirds of his opponents. The “Limerick Assassin” has a devastating overhand left when he chooses to use it. A southpaw, Lee could also present problems to the orthodox Thiam. While Dou-Dou has been KO’d seven times, Andy suffered only one TKO against Brian Vera. Thiam is also giving up thirteen years to the younger (25-year old) Lee. In addition, crowd support for the Shannonsider will be overwhelming in his native Limerick. Although statistics don’t tell the whole story, Lee is listed by the WBA at #12 and Boxrec at #20 in the 160-pound division. Thiam is ranked much lower at #149, around the level of Eric Mitchell and Dionisio Miranda.

 

Lee will probably turn up to fight in tip-top shape as a result of Stallman’s conditioning. The extra training regimen might also explain his unusual five and a half month lay-off. Defensively, Andy will have to keep Thiam from pressuring him on the inside, where he has had consistent problems. Expect Lee to fight on the outside, wearing down the older Dou-Dou with hooks to the body. Andy’s psychological confidence will also improve if Steward is in his corner. Thiam is made to order to refine Lee’s skills and teach him new techniques. The contest could serve as valuable tune-up for Andy before he steps up to fight for the European middleweight title.

 

Lee’s ultimate objective is to win the European belt, and if possible, fight for the championship in Limerick. Irish promoter Brian Peters would be only too happy to accommodate the Castleconnell man’s goal. Lee previously defeated the current European title holder, Darren Barker, 22-0 (14KOs) as an amateur. Andy also recalls that he had a broken hand when he beat “Dazzling Darren.” Lee and Barker both have recent wins over Belghcham, but the tough Algerian gave each of them a run for their money. For now however, Andy has to focus on Thiam, a dangerous veteran who can drop an opponent with either hand. Look for fireworks at the Limerick University Arena on May 15th.

[LondonRingRules]

Re: Andy Lee aiming for European Title

 

By Dan Fitz-Simons: On May 15th Andy Lee 20-1 (14KOs) will take on Mamadou (“Dou-Dou”) Thiam in his fourth professional bout in Limerick, Ireland.............

......... Andy will have to keep Thiam from pressuring him on the inside, where he has had consistent problems.

 

--------- Oh for the heady days when Steward claimed Lee was ready to beat Pavlik.

 

Thing is that Steward don't teach inside fighting, he teaches inside holding to spoil any inside fighting.

 

Lee is a good and talented fighter, but he's definitely been kept in cotton wool since the Vera debacle in which I thought he showed championship heart and durability in. The loss seems to have affected the team for the worse with ambitions dumbed down and everyone treading water.

 

Well, it's time to make a hard charge and if they can kick it off through the EBU title, well, go for it. Middle division is wide open with Martinez knocking off Ring champ and Abraham moving up. Lee vs Sturm is a winnable fight as is Sylvester.

 

Martinez a tricker proposition, but he's got some big fights lining up that won't include Lee, so forget that.

[Faulks]

ONE thing Andy Lee needs more than anything else is a win over a world middleweight title contender in the top 10 or even 20, to establish himself on the global stage.

 

A contract for such a fight would make an ideal birthday present for the classy Limerick southpaw, who turns 26 on June 11, as he watches his former amateur team-mate John Duddy move closer to a world title opportunity.

 

Even Lee himself admits that his career, which began with much fanfare in Detroit four years ago under one of America's top mentors, Emanuel Stewart, who is still his manager and main trainer, has stalled.

 

He has not pulled on the gloves in serious combat since he outpointed Affif Belghecham over 10 rounds in his home town last November. Lee won by a wide margin but he had big problems in the last two rounds when the resilient Frenchman's belated swings and hooks had Lee hanging on.

 

However, he is back in the ring on May 15, and again at the University Sports Arena, when he meets Senegalese puncher Mamadou Thiam, who boxes out of Paris, over 10 rounds. Thiam may be well outside the top 40 in the world rankings, but he's a solid hitter with 46 wins in 54 fights, 43 either of knockouts or stoppages.

 

In any event, Lee believes the Thiam fight will help silence critics like UK journalist John Dennen, who wrote in the influential 'Boxing News' early this month that since his loss to Brian Vera in 2008: "His career appears to have lost momentum."

 

"Ok, I've got to make myself a contender," Lee said at his New York base yesterday. "All I need is a good win over Thiam and a couple of good fights against guys in the top 10, even 20. I aim to box regularly. This fight in Limerick is the start and then I'll be busy from then on."

 

Promoter Brian Peters said last night that a good win in Limerick could put Andy in line for an early shot at Darren Barker for the European title. Billed as 'Dazzling Darren,' the Londoner, unbeaten in 22 fights, won the title vacated by Matthew Macklin by outpointing Lee's last opponent Belghecham two weeks ago.

 

In their amateur days, Lee beat Barker on a wide 18-8 scoreline on the way to a bronze medal in the European Senior Championships in Croatia six years ago. Lee feels confident he could do it again as a pro.

 

"I watched the (Belghecham) fight and I saw little to discourage me from seeking his European belt," he said. "I'm not in any way being disrespectful to Barker but I think the fight exposed his limitations. I'll take him on in Limerick or in the UK, wherever. First, though, I've got Thiam on my mind."

 

THE undercard of the May 15 show in Limerick includes Dubliner Ian Tims meeting Mayo's Michael Sweeney for the vacant cruiserweight title and Mayo contender John Waldron against Limerick's Jamie Power for the lightheavyweight belt, also vacant.

 

To reader Jonathan Mulrooney of Limerick: Mike McTigue from Clare held the world lightheavyweight title. He was never middleweight or heavyweight champion and is remembered as a tough, classy boxer.