Andy Lee to sign with Top Rank

Middleweight Andy Lee, a 2004 Irish Olympian and one of the hottest prospects in boxing, has agreed to a promotional contract with Top Rank that could one day lead to a title shot against Top Rank-promoted champion Kelly Pavlik. Lee, manager and trainer Emanuel Steward and Top Rank's Bob Arum met this week in New York to finalize terms of the deal, Arum and Steward told ESPN.com. Steward said the deal hasn't been signed yet, but that a signing was a formality. "It's a good deal. We're in a good position and the timing is good," Steward said. "I feel very comfortable with Bob. I had made a commitment to Bob in the beginning of Andy's career and Andy fought on a few of his cards, but we didn't get everything worked out. Now, we have." EnlargeEd Mulholland/FightWireImages.com Andy Lee, left, is joining Top Rank with hopes of securing a fight with Kelly Pavlik. Before his Top Rank deal commences, Lee, 23, faces Season 3 "Contender" participant Brian Vera on March 21 in the main event of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" at the Mohegan Sun resort in Uncasville, Conn. Lee's first bout under the Top Rank contract will be June 7 on the undercard of Pavlik's first title defense. Arum said he is talking to HBO and Showtime about buying the card, but he said part of any deal would be for Lee's bout to be part of the telecast. "We really want to get Andy television exposure, which is very important at this stage of his career," Arum said. Arum said he's shopping a tripleheader: Pavlik's fight against an opponent to be named, Lee's bout, and a bout involving junior welterweight titleholder Ricardo Torres. Arum said Torres' potential opponents include Demetrius Hopkins and Kendall Holt. If Torres faces Holt, it would be a rematch of Torres' wildly controversial 11th-round TKO in September in his native Colombia. Steward said one of the keys to signing Lee with Top Rank was to move closer to a shot at Pavlik. Steward said that Top Rank would be contractually obligated to have Lee on Pavlik's upcoming undercards. "We want people to start looking at these two guys together and thinking of them fighting each other," Steward said. "Bob is the path to get us a shot at Kelly and I like working with Bob and his staff." Arum is experienced when it comes to promoting middleweights. He promoted numerous championship fights involving Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran during the division's 1980s heyday. He said he likes what he's seen from Lee so far. "I love the kid. How good he is I don't know for sure yet, but he's looked good so far," Arum said. "He is charming and a very promotable kid." Lee (15-0, 12 KOs), a powerful 6-foot-2 southpaw, has fought most of his bouts in the United States, although three of his last five have been in Ireland, where he is developing a fan base. Despite the size difference, Lee has sparred numerous rounds with Steward-trained heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who likes to use Lee for speed. Lee also held his own in sparring sessions with Jermain Taylor when he was middleweight champion.