Osie challenges Michalczewski and Ulrich... for free!

By Olaf Schroeder

16.09 - After missing out on making a statement against Serbia’s tough Zdravko Kostic two weekends ago when his co-challenger not only couldn’t make the weight for a WBF lightheavyweight title fight, but also fled Berlin only hours before the fight, Lee Manuel Osie has stepped up and made an offer to Germany’s leading lightheavyweights, WBO champion Dariusz Michalczewski and WBC International champion Thomas Ulrich.

The 35-year-old Afro-Spaniard, handled by controversial female promoter Eva Rolle and fighting and training out of the German capital, upped his record to 31-3 (18) on Sept. 6 by easily crushing late substitute Imrich Borka, but definitely feels that he has no time to waiste in his final run at the big-time.

“I am willing, and Mrs. Rolle has made this offer today to (Michalczewski’s and Ulrich’s promoter) Universum Box-Promotion, to take on either of them with absolutely no purse. I fight them for free, just to prove that I can beat them,” said Osie before heading back to his family in Vigo, Spain. Eva Rolle, speaking from Berlin, confirms: “Universum has offered us 10.000 Euro to challenge their European champion Stipe Drews – but this is a laughable amount, isn’t it? But give us Dariusz or Ulrich and we don’t ask a cent. They can give the money to a charity if they like, Lee will make enough once he beats either of them.”

Osie was outpointed by Drews last November over 12 rounds and afterwards had to undergo eye surgery. Should Universum decided that it makes more sense to pay for a weaker opponent for their 175 lbs stars than to risk a loss by saving money, Osie will instead defend his EU title on November 8.