[caption id="attachment_70532" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Emanuel Steward, Andy Lee's trainer, says world title fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is logical."]
Andy Lee is back in the frame for a world title shot against WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. with June 16 in El Paso, Texas, the likely date and venue.
This is according to the undefeated Chavez [45-0, 31 KOs], who had a title defense scheduled on that date against Martin Murray. The Briton, who’s also unbeaten [23-0-1, 10 KOs] is, however, reportedly encountering visa problems that appear to have knocked him out of contention.
“I’m still looking forward to fighting June 16 in El Paso,” Chavez told fighthype.com last week. “There have [been] a few names that I’ve been mentioned, Vanes Martirosyan and Andy Lee, and I would fight either one of them.”
Sizing up both potential foes, the Mexican conqueror of John Duddy said:
“I’ve sparred with Vanes. I know it will be a difficult fight, but I would like to have that fight. Also, I like Andy Lee because he’s left handed and it would also help for when I fight Sergio Martinez.”
In a separate online interview, Lee said he was ready and willing to square off with Chavez.
“I would relish the opportunity to fight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. for the WBC title on June 16,” he reiterated. “I’m ready and available, let’s make the fight. It would be a tough fight but I believe I have the skills to beat him and end his reign as champion. The Irish and Mexican people like a good fight, so let’s get it on.”
Eastsideboxing.com quoted Emanuel Steward, Lee’s manager and trainer as saying a Lee-Chavez fight is logical.
“Andy has established himself has an entertaining fighter in America and Europe. I think a fight between Andy and Julio would be a great fight; they are two young fighters burning with ambition and have a track record of being in exciting fights.
“Andy is the most prominent and visible middleweight contender resident in the United States at this time; it makes good sporting and business sense for HBO and promoters to make the fight between Andy and Julio,” Steward said.
Lee was earlier on Chavez’s radar after the champion made a successful second title defense against Marco Antonio Rubio in February. However, the Mexican’s handlers later reconsidered opting for Murray, presumably because of the Irishman’s southpaw style.
Lee [28-1, 20 KOs] is coming off a second round KO of Saul Duran in Michigan on March 10 that has seen him reinstated in the WBC top ten at number four, making a title challenge at Chavez possible. The Limerick southpaw is also ranked second at 160-pounds by both the WBA and WBO organizations.
