“It’s a shame. It would have been a big fight for Ireland. I’ll just have to move on – there will be someone else to fight”. These were the thoughts of Andy Lee on the sudden retirement of opponent John Duddy.
I bumped into him on the train last weekend, he was on his way to Dublin to appear on Eoin McDevitt’s iTalkSport on Setanta Sports. He was upbeat despite the change of schedule which will now see him fight feisty Scot Craig McEwan. “It was a surprise, the contracts were signed and we were all set to go – this fight had been touted for a few years. “It was his choice, he didn’t have an injury or lose or anything like that. “Good luck to him in whatever he decides to go on and do”.
Although Duddy’s retirement was a shock, the Castleconnell fighter has not lost focus and is ready for his new opponent. “I’ll be fighting Scot Craig McEwan and he’s a good fighter if not better. “He’s an unbeaten ranked fighter so I’ll be making the same progress”. This bout, which has been dubbed the ‘Celtic War’, will take place on March 12 in Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States. Lee said he is familiar with McEwan’s style:
“He’s a tall technical boxer with a snappy right jab. He is someone with a good work rate in the ring in and he is an effective switch hitter”. The Limerick south paw beat McEwan as an amateur in 2005 and is focused on repeating the feat as a pro on March 12. He was relaxed and refreshed on the train as passengers stopped to congratulate him on his success and wish him luck. “I spent Christmas at home with family in Castleconnell. “I trained down at my club St Francis’ over the Christmas. “I also went down to Our Lady of Lourdes to watch Willie Casey and some of the young lads at the club train. “I wished Willie the best of luck in his upcoming World title fight against Rigondeaux”.
On his return to the US this week Andy will head to Florida for a training camp with Miguel Cotto and Chad Dawson. “Miguel has a fight on the same night as me so we’ll have some of the same training goals”. He now shares a common goal with Willie Casey of bringing the world title back to Limerick in 2011. “My aim for the year is to get the title and it’s all set now just two or three fights away, all going well. “If I fight well and look good, who knows? But for now, it’s one fight at a time”.
