ANDY LEE made a successful return to the boxing ring last Saturday 9 after seeing off the challenge of Anthony Fitzgerald in Belfast. The Castleconnell man (28) was pushed all the way by Fitzgerald in a fight that was closer than originally expected, but Lee did enough to win on a refereeās score of 98-94. It was Leeās first bout under new trainer Adam Booth and also his first since losing the world title fight to Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr last summer.
Lee admitted after Saturdayās fight that he has room for improvement, saying that it was ānot my bestā but that he intends to ātake something from itā.
Lee is already looking to his next challenge and this week called out Irish middleweight rival Matthew Macklin.
Lee said: āI think heād be one of the easier fights for me, Macklin. Iām glad heās mentioned my name because Iām happy to fight him.ā
The Limerick manās comments struck a nerve with Macklin, who has since warned Lee to āput up or shut upā in a public rebuke.
Both men are under contract to US promoter Lou DiBella and Macklin says it is time for Leeās actions to match his words.
āLou has a HBO television date for May 11 and I know he wants to match myself and Andy on that show,ā revealed Macklin.
āLou has a TV date for it and I want the fight so the only question is does Andy really want it or does he just want to be seen to want it?ā
āI honestly donāt believe he fancies it and never has but he is after digging a hole for himself with his recent comments so itās time for him to put up or shut up.ā