Andy Lee's big win over Bryan Vera last month has earned him pole position in the latest World Boxing Organization [WBO] middleweight rankings. He's now the number one contender to Dimitry Pirog's 160-pound belt, but expect the Limerick southpaw to spurn the mandatory title challenge that he's entitled to.
"I'm not interested," Emanuel Steward, Lee's Hall of Famer trainer-manager told the Echo from Detroit on Sunday. "The number one fighter in that division is the guy we want. We want [Sergio] Martinez."
Steward made it clear that they'd pass up any other title challenge before getting Martinez, a 48-2-2 [27 KOs] California-based Argentine, who's the consensus middleweight champion and the World Boxing Council [WBC] Diamond Champion.
It's a fight that could probably happen in the New Year since both Lee [27-1, 19 KOs] and Martinez are promoted by Lou DiBella.
In the meantime, Lee, whose impressive ten round unanimous points win over Vera in Atlantic City Oct. 1 avenged his only pro defeat, could be back in the ring next month.
"Andy's old school. He wants to fight [and] he told me that he wants to fight Dec. 10 or 17," said Steward.
Although a venue has yet to be determined, Steward said it would definitely be on the east coast.
In addition to his top ranking in the WBO, Lee is number two in the World Boxing Association, whose champion is German Felix Sturm; and sixth in the WBC whose nominal titlist is John Duddy conqueror Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
