By Jake Donovan
It almost seems unfair to limit young undefeated middleweight Andy Lee to a prospect pick of the week. Ask just about anyone in the industry, and the consensus returns are that the kid is among the best prospects, period.
Boxing has been in Lee's blood for as long as he can remember. The results two years into his pro career are all of the proof you need, with Lee not only undefeated through his first 14 fights, but has yet to lose a single round. Not that he's been protected on the way up; only one of his 14 opponents to date came in with a losing record, a fight in which Lee apologized afterward for the subpar opposition, despite receiving the loudest ovation of the evening.
It's only a glimpse of the professionalism Lee exudes on both sides of the ropes. Give the fans their money's worth the moment the bell rings, and appreciate their love and support beforehand and afterward.
Though of Irish heritage, Lee was born in London, England in 1984, the fourth of six children to Irish working-class parents. Despite the British surrounding, Lee's parents never allowed him to forget his roots, taking family vacations to Ireland every summer, with dreams of one day returning home to their motherland.
That dream became a reality in 1998, when the family left London for the quiet surroundings of Castle Connell, just outside of Limerick, Ireland. Lee was 14 years old, but had already been boxing for three years. It was at the St. Francis Boxing Club in Limerick City where Lee found a source of familiarity among new surroundings. A few years later, Lee knew he was destined to be a pro boxer.
What he wasn't so sure of was where destiny would take him.
It was after his performance in the 2002 Junior World Championships in Cuba, where Lee would capture a silver medal, when the Irish southpaw would learn that he was being heavily scouted by one of boxing's most noted trainers, Emmanuel Steward.
Lee was ecstatic over the thought of serving under Manny's tutelage, but wouldn't join the famed Kronk stable for another two years. There was still work to be done, like living out a long time goal of representing his country in the 2004 Olympics. Lee would make it to the Sweet 16, before being shown the exit after holding Cameroon middleweight Njam Njikam a draw, only to lose by way of "countback", when the highest and lowest scores from each judge are deducted before recalculating.
Rather than wait another four years for a second chance at capturing Olympic Gold, Lee decided it was time to punch for pay. That meant relocation from Limerick, Ireland to the Motor City, where Lee now resides in fighting out of the Kronk Gym. The risk has been well worth the reward, with Lee serving as stablemates with Jermain Taylor, Wladimir Klistchko, Jonathan Banks and Kermit Cintron among many others in his three years stateside.
The invaluable gym experience has allowed Lee to show ring intelligence not normally offered after just 14 pro fights. Lee has shown the ability to effectively box and brawl, switching up on a moment's notice whenever the situation arose. At 6'2" the rangy southpaw often controls the distance as well as the tempo in all of his bouts.
The promise was evident as early as his pro debut, which took place at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit in March 2006. It would be one of only two fights in or around his adopted hometown, with the now well-traveled Lee punching for pay in Las Vegas, Memphis, New York City, Germany and of course, mother Ireland along the way.
No matter the location, the results have been the same – Lee by wipeout. Only three opponents to date – Anthony Cannon, Carl Cockerham and Dennis Sharpe – have managed to last the distance, though none winning a single round between them. The Sharpe fight came at Madison Square Garden in November 2006, the last time any of Lee's opponents have seen the final bell. All eight of his ring appearances in 2007 ended in knockout, none lasting longer than six rounds.
Among the streak was one of 2007's best – if underrated – knockouts, a third-round blitzing of former alphabet titlist Carl Daniels. A perfect right hook forced Daniels to lean back, with Lee raising his arm in victory the moment the punch landed.
Most rewarding to date have been his two appearances in Ireland, fighting in his homeland for the first time as a pro last August, when he dusted off Ciaran Healy in four rounds in Dublin. Lee ended his 2007 campaign in the same town, when he dropped Jason McKay early in their fight, which ended after McKay elected to remain on his stool after six one-sided rounds.
Both McKay and Healy appear on the undercard of Lee's next fight, which comes this Saturday evening. The bout serves as Lee's hometown debut, this being his first pro bout in Limerick, where he faces tough Argentinean prospect Alejandro Gustavo Falliga in a ten-round middleweight main event.
Falliga has never been stopped in 19 pro fights, boasting credentials typical of Lee's pro career to date. Tough opposition, with his 15 opponents (including Falliga) boasting a combined 70% winning percentage, numbers unheard of in the early stages of any fighter's career. Even Lee's fellow top prospects today are just now facing gatekeeper-level competition after having padded their records against a collection of no-hopers.
But then that's what separates Lee from the rest of the pack, and what makes him not just a top prospect, but quite possible the very best.
Jake "The Jake-of-All-Trades" Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, and presently serves on the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. His column runs every Tuesday on BoxingScene.com. Please feel free to submit any comments or questions to Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com
