Andy Lee (27W-1L, 19KOs), Irish Kronk middleweight star sees 2012 has the defining year of his professional career and the fearless Irishman has set his sights on winning a world title in the next 12 months.
Team Lee strongly believe their fighter has earned his place to challenge for a world title in 2012, the popular Kronk fighter is the hottest property in Irish professional boxing and in recent years has scaled the heights of world middleweight boxing to be presently positioned in the world rankings as WBC #6, WBA # 2, and WBO #1.
In March 2011, Lee ranked WBC #14 and WBA #5 signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with DiBella Entertainment Inc. with the goal of developing and advancing his career aspirations. The Kronk fighter believes premier promoter Lou DiBella will progress his title ambitions and raise his stock value in boxing from being a world title contender to being a world champion in 2012.
The Irishman’s debut under the DBE promotional banner took place on March 12, 2011 and was broadcast live on HBO from the Foxwood Casino, Connecticut. The fight was an epic battle dubbed the ‘Celtic War’ against the then unbeaten world ranked Scotchman Craig McEwan (19W, 1OKOS).
The fight was a barnstormer with both fighters trading heavy leather from the opening bell. Lee relentless in his determination and courage throughout the fight caught McEwan with a devastating overhand left in the 10th round sending his opponent crashing to the canvas. Referee Steve Smogger, concerned about the health and well being of McEwan stopped the fight immediately without a count.
Lee’s next outing was on May 18, 2011 when he won both North American Boxing Federation (NABF) and North American Boxing Association (NABA) against the experienced Alex ‘The Technician’ Bunema at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Using his long right jab the Kronk fighter effectively kept the durable Bunema (31-7-2, 17 KOs) at long range and in doing so comfortably won every round of the fight. The judges’ scores were 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90.
The Kronk fighter put on a boxing master class in his last outing on October 1, 2011 against the tough and resilient Brian Vera (19-5, 12KOs) at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City live on HBO and Sky TV. He systematically broke down his opponent over 10 rounds using his superior boxing skills.
Lee controlled the fight by landing beautiful right hooks and uppercuts and straight left hand power shots. Vera touched the canvas twice during the fight, but stubbornly hung in there to the final bell. The ringside judges scored the contest 99-90, 98-91 and 99-90.
The Kronk fighter falling to his knees when the fight ended was elated with his win; he had avenged the only loss on his record to Vera on March 21, 2008 and on a personal level he was now satisfied he had redeemed himself and banished a ghost.
The talented Irishman’s impressive performances in 2011 made an emphatic statement to the belt holders in the middleweight division that he has the skills and attributes necessary to challenge for and win a world title.
Lee is penciled in to fight again on Saturday, March 17 at MSG Theater, New York on a St Patrick’s Day in a gala evening of Irish boxing with the bout scheduled to be broadcast live on HBO. He hopes this fight will be the springboard to land him a world title shot in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2012.
There are a number of world middleweight title contests planned and scheduled in the 1st quarter of 2012 and Lee aims to fight one of the winners; Julio Cesar Chavez Jr defends his WBC belt against Marco Antonio Rubio on February 4, Daniel Geale defends his IBF belt against a yet to be named opponent on March 7 and Sergio Martinez is due to defend his WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine belts against Matthew Macklin on March 17 also at MSG Theater, New York.
Lee commented “I am 28 this June with nearly 30 fights under my belt; I have grown as a fighter and I am now ready and prepared to challenge for and win a world title. It is every boxer’s ambition to be a world champion and I believe this is my year.
I have positioned myself nicely in the world ratings as a legitimate world title contender. In boxing what you want, what you deserve and what you get are all different things. Boxing is a business as well as a sport and sometimes things come down to timing and being in the right place at the right time. I believe I am at that juncture in my career and I am more than ready for a title shot.
After my fight on March 17, I want to move up the World Boxing Council (WBC) ratings and capture the #1 spot as the mandatory challenger to the WBC title. I would relish the opportunity to fight Martinez, Chavez Jr, Rubio, Macklin or Geale in a championship fight. I have the skills and power to beat any of them.”
2011 has been a good year for the ambitious Andy Lee under the guidance of his respected and astute manager/trainer Emanuel Steward and his experienced and progressive promoter Lou DiBella. Two entertaining performances live on HBO is the perfect platform for the Kronk fighter to move forward on in 2012.
Lee has been pursuing his date with destiny from when he first laced up a pair of boxing gloves at the age of 11 back in 1995. He had a very successful amateur career winning a host of Irish national titles, multination tournaments, a Silver medal in the World under 19s in 2002, a European Bronze senior medal in 2003 and was a 2004 Irish Olympian. In January 2006, at the age of 21 he left his family and comfort zone in Ireland and boarded an airplane bound for the renowned Kronk Boxing Gym in Detroit, USA with the dream of someday becoming a world champion.
Since Lee’s pro debut at the famous Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on March 10, 2006, Emanuel Steward, the boxing maestro has patiently nurtured and honed the boxing skills of his pupil and carefully chartered a pathway for his fighter to become a world title challenger.
The Irish Kronk star in the past 6 years has developed into a seasoned fighter with an arsenal of weapons, he likes to mix it at times with his opponents in fights but his greatest assets are that he can box and he can bang. His natural tall and rangy physic allows him to box at range, pick his punches and keep his distance.
Lee is also recognized as one of the strongest and most effective punchers in the middleweight division with 19 of his 28 opponents going back to the dressing room early.
Emanuel Steward commented “Andy is presently the most prominent and visible middleweight contender resident in the United States at this time; it makes good sporting and business sense for the television executives, promoters and sanctioning bodies to stage an Andy Lee world title fight in 2012.
Andy is in the prime of his life and given the opportunity will give champions like Sergio Martinez and Julio Chavez Jr all the trouble they want. He is a superior technical boxer who can punch with both hands. No matter what fight Andy Lee is in he has the fans on the edge of their seats.”
As the established and #1 Irish fighter in the US, Lee will certainly attract many supporters and ticket sales from Irish communities in New York and Ireland for his fight at MSG Theater on St Patrick’s Day 2012. This is the perfect stage for ‘Irish Andy Lee’ to launch his world title assault in the Mecca of boxing with the fanatical Irish crowd cheering him on from the rafters.
The famous Irish American heavyweight fighter Gerry Cooney wisely once said “You have a small period of time when you can perfect your career and become good at it. A lot of guys get distracted, which only hurts them. You must stay focused and work very hard at boxing.”
Andy Lee is going to take Gerry Cooney’s advice on board and use the next period of time to perfect his talent, stay focused on the big prize and work very hard at his boxing so when his time comes in 2012 he will not just be ready to challenge for a world title, but actually realize his childhood dream and win a world title.
Award-Winning Bernardo Osuna Named ESPN’s Friday Night Fights Studio Host
ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna, one of the most honored boxing journalists in the industry, has been named ESPN’s Friday Night Fights new studio host on ESPN2 and ESPN3. Osuna will make his debut when ESPN’s Friday Night Fights kicks off its 14th season January 6 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.
“We are excited to welcome Bernardo full time to our team,” said Matt Sandulli, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “He has contributed in the past but now viewers will truly benefit from his 17 years covering boxing. He is well connected both domestically and internationally which is a huge asset covering the sport in 2012. The studio news and information presentation is a big part of Friday Night Fights and Bernardo will do a great job delivering that each week.”
Osuna served as a guest analyst in Friday Night Fights‘ studio in 2009-2010, part of a rotating list of guests that included World Champion Bernard Hopkins, ESPN.com’s boxing expert Dan Rafael, and cruiserweight contender B.J. Flores.
“Being entrusted with the studio host position for Friday Night Fights is a great honor and responsibility,” said Osuna. “I plan to bring my knowledge and passion for the sport of boxing to every telecast, and to continue the tradition of credibility which has been the hallmark of those who have preceded me on this show. I am excited about working with Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas as well as interacting directly with our viewers on our social media platforms.”
In addition to his Friday Night Fights responsibilities, Osuna serves as co-host of ESPN Deportes’ weekly boxing news and analysis show Golpe a Golpe, and is ESPN Deportes’ west coast bureau reporter and boxing analyst.
Osuna will host from ESPN’s Connecticut studios, but occasionally will be on site at Friday Night Fights or in ESPN’s Los Angeles studios.
Osuna has received many honors for his work on boxing including, the 2003 Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism presented by the Boxing Writers Association of America, four Emmy Awards, and six Golden Mic’s. Additionally, he has received the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission Broadcasting Award, and is a former member of the Ring Ratings Advisory Board.
STAR BOXING BRINGS WORLD CLASS CARD TO TIMES UNION CENTER IN ALBANY ON FEB. 4TH
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (January 3, 2012) Star Boxing, New York City’s premier boxing promoter since 1992, is partnering with The Times Union Center in Albany, New York, on Saturday, February 4th to present “KO AT THE TU”, an action packed evening of world-championship professional boxing.
“The Albany, New York and Capital Region has long been a source of world-class boxers and terrific fights. Fans in that area of upstate New York have always been very supportive of the sport and we look forward to a long standing relationship with The Times Union Center to provide sensational evenings of entertainment”, said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing.
Stated Bob Belber, General Manager of The Times Union Center; “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a Heavyweight Title Fight and Championship Boxing back to the capital region. With the fights taking place on a prime Saturday night at an affordable price, this is sure to be an event that Albany as well as our surrounding areas will be sure to embrace. We are excited to host this event and with the support of the boxing community, we look forward to working with Star Boxing on future events.”
Headlining “KO AT THE TU” will be undefeated heavyweight prospect and defending IBA Heavyweight Champion Joe “The Future” Hanks. Fighting out of Newark, New Jersey, the 28 year old Hanks, 18-0-0 with twelve knockouts will face off against monstrous Cuban heavyweight Rafael “The Cajun Connection” Pedro.
Reminiscent of legendary knockout artist Mike Tyson, Hanks has caught the eye of fans and the media across the country with his crushing knockouts since turning professional five years ago. In his last start on December 3rd, Hanks scored a brutal second round stoppage over Franklin Edmondson in Greensboro, North Carolina. Dropping Edmonson with a left hook, right cross combination early in the stanza, Hanks finished the evening for Edmondson with a devastating right hand to the body.
Standing 6’7”, Pedro brings a record of 21-9-1 (15KO’s) into the world title clash with Hanks. On October 14th, Pedro, a native of Havana, Cuba, now residing in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, drilled Bobby O’Bannon to the canvas in the first round earning the stoppage in Chalmette, Louisiana.
With numerous early stoppage wins on his ledger, Pedro promises to come out swinging from the opening bell in search of the quick knockout of the equally aggressive Hanks.
Also featured at “KO AT THE TU” is a cruiserweight clash between former world title challenger David Telesco and highly regarded Puerto Rican prospect Vincent Miranda.
Long a favorite with East Coast boxing fans and a staple on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, the heavy handed Telesco, 30-7-1 (25KO’s), is looking to re-start his career after a two year layoff towards making another run at a world title.
The 26-year-old Miranda, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will be making his first appearance in the Tri-State area, bringing a record of 14-1-0 (8KO’s). Since suffering his only defeat in 2009, Miranda has rebuilt his career, winning all four starts in 2011 by way of knockout.
Also featured on the undercard will be undefeated prospect Kevin Rooney Jr. The 27-year-old Rooney, son of legendary boxing trainer Kevin Rooney Sr., brings a record of 2-1-0 (1KO), into the scheduled four rounder.
Rooney Sr. was responsible for the early success of Hall of Famer Mike Tyson’s career, including his first three professional bouts in Albany among his many fights in upstate New York.
Additional bouts and much more information on “KO AT THE TU” will be announced in the coming days.
Tickets, priced at $75, $50, $40 and $30, are available through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000) or at the Times Union Center Box Office, (www.timesunioncenter-albany.com), and at all local Wal-Mart Music Centers. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at 718-823-2000 or on www.starboxing.com.
The Times Union Center is location at 51 South Pearl Street in Albany, New York, 12207.