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Andy Lee has been handed an acid test as he looks to bounce back from the first defeat of his career when he headlines the next Ladbrokes.com Fight Night in his native Limerick on July 19.
Lee will face Philadelphia puncher Willie “The Gladiator” Gibbs and the American is predicting a nightmare return to the University Sports Arena in Limerick for the hometown hero next month.
“I’m still scratching my head about this fight,” said a bemused Gibbs. “I mean the guy just suffered his first defeat and now they want him to suffer a second one straight away. It doesn’t make sense to me but I’ll do what I have to do and that’s come to Ireland to destroy Andy Lee.”
Gibbs will touch down in Shannon next month with the credentials to back up his impressive talk. The former USBA middleweight champion has a record of 20 wins and just 3 defeat’s with 16 of those wins coming via knockout.
A cousin of pound for pound great Bernard Hopkins, Gibbs believes he shares more than a family tree with his fellow Philadelphia native.
“Bernard came through the hard way and ended up right at the top of the game I’m going to do the same. I’ve had setbacks in my career with managerial and trainer problems but this is a great opportunity for me to beat an up and coming kid and make the world sit up and take notice of Willie Gibbs again. Beating Andy Lee will put me back in the boxing atmosphere and can take me to a world title fight and that’s my goal.”
Gibbs had been in training for a July 12 date in Dublin against Matthew Macklin but when that fight fell through he was only too happy to switch his focus to Lee.
“I don’t know what his team are thinking of with this fight. Do they honestly believe I’m going to come all the way to Ireland to lie down for him? I saw Lee’s last fight and he’s a good young fighter who’s shooting for his dream like the rest of us but he ain’t ready for me. The fact that they even think they can take me shows they’re underestimating me. That’s a slap in the face for me and it’s all the motivation I need.
“Rest assured I’m going to be packing my A game into my suitcase. People are saying that Lee can’t afford to lose this one well neither can I so I’m going to be a dangerous man in that ring. If it’s God’s grace for me to land that right hand then I know I’ll take him out. I broke my right hand early on in the fight when I won the USBA title but still knocked the guy out in the last round with a double right hook.
“I’m an old school fighter and I go in there and give blood, sweat and tears because that’s what the fans pay to see. The only problem next month is that the tears will be from Lee’s people.”
Despite his bold prediction Gibbs believes Lee to be a good fighter. “I haven’t seen that much of him yet but from what I have seen he seems to be a good kid. I’m certainly not going to question his heart because any man that gets into that four cornered ring has heart.”
Gibbs has been to Europe before having competed in Russia, Germany and Poland during his amateur days but he says there will be a new addition to his luggage this time around. “I’m definitely bringing the mask to Ireland,” said Gibbs referring to the Gladiator style mask that always identifies him as he makes his ringwalk. Ireland hasn’t seen the mask and they haven’t seen Willie Gibbs either. Everyone there is in for a big surprise.”
Lee however will he hoping that vociferous home support can see him record the 16th win of his pro career and get him back to winning ways. The Shannonsider made an emotional homecoming to his native city in February headlining the first ever professional boxing event in the city with a demolition of Argentina’s Alejandro Gustavo Falliga.
However in his next outing Lee suffered the first setback of his career with a shock defeat at the hands of Brian Vera in Connecticut in a fight that was televised live coast to coast in the U.S.
Now Lee has the opportunity to get back to winning ways in front of his home town support but with Gibbs in the opposite corner it promises to be a huge test for the Athens Olympian.
Lee will look to return to winning ways on July 19th in his native Limerick but he realises he won’t have it easy when he faces Willie “The Gladiator” Gibbs on the next Ladbrokes.com Fight Night.
The fight will mark Lee’s return to the ring following his shock defeat at the hands of Brian Vera in March. It was huge upset for the highly touted Irish southpaw who was rated one of the 5 best prospects in world boxing.
“There’s no real point dressing it up and put a positive spin on the Vera fight,” admitted Lee. “It was very disappointing but I’m ready to move on now and can’t wait to get back in the ring. People have said that the defeat might lower expectations and take some weight off my shoulders but I didn’t have a problem with that weigh because nobody’s expectations were any higher than my own.
“I’ve taken some positives from it though, I definitely learned a few things from that fight so I’m keen to move on now and put it behind me. I’m really looking forward to the Gibbs fight because he’s very highly regarded. He’s only lost to the best so he has to be respected and a good win over him will get me right back on track again.”
Lee’s first preference was for a rematch with Vera but with the Texas man showing little interest in a return for the moment it’s something he’s willing to remain patient for.
“We spoke to his people about a rematch but they weren’t interested. Maybe it’s something that can happen later on because that’s something I really want to put right but for now I’m just focusing on Willie Gibbs and getting a big win in Limerick.”
Lee admits that it will be great to have the backing of a hometown crowd as he looks to get back to winning ways. “It’s great that my first fight back after the defeat is in Limerick. The support last time was amazing. It was an experience to remember so hopefully July 19th will be the same.”
Lee will prepare for the fight with legendary trainer Emanuel Steward in Austria where he is sharing training camp and even swapping punches with IBF heavyweight champ, Wladimir Klitschko who defends his title against American Tony Thompson in Germany next month.
“I only got out their at the weekend but I’ve already done some sparring with Wladimir because he’s fighting a southpaw,” said Lee. “It’s a great experience because sparring him really helps with my strength and conditioning while he uses the sessions for speed work.
“The camp is in a great setting at the foot of the Alps so it’s the prefect place to prepare for the fight.”
Reigning English Champion Nigel Wright believes he can put an end to Paul McCloskey’s unbeaten run when they clash on the Ladbrokes.com Fight Night in Limerick on July 19.
McCloskey is coming off a career best win over former World Champion Cesar Bazan but Wright is confident that he will be the first man to inflict a professional defeat on the Derryman at the University Sports Arena.
Wright says that he knows plenty about McCloskey and will be coming to Limerick full of confidence.
“I know Paul quite well from the amateurs,” revealed the 28-year-old Hartlepool native.
“We sparred each other back then in London and he’s a very nice lad. We would have bumped into each other at a lot of the International tournaments over the years and we always got on well but we’ll have to put that aside next month.”
Wright was a two time English champion in the amateur ranks and he has gone on to repeat that feat in the professional game in compiling a record of 18 wins, 3 defeats and a draw.
Having reigned as English Champion for the past 2 years Wright is keen to add the British title to his collection and believes a win over McCloskey would make him the leading contender for David Barnes Lonsdale belt.
“I think either myself or Paul should be next in line for the British title, so our fight should really decide who’s next up. Barnes is a decent fighter but I’ve spared him quite a bit as well and I’m confident I can beat him.
“I don’t want to put Paul down either because he’s doing well in the pro’s and deserves the reputation he has but I’m 100% confident I’m going to win this. I wouldn’t jeopardise a British title fight if I didn’t think I could come to Ireland and beat Paul. This is the right fight for me and the right move in my career and I’m ready to do the job.”
For his part it will be something of a novelty for McCloskey to come up against a British opponent again – his last 6 fights have seen him take on and defeat two Mexicans, an Argentinean, an Italian, a Pole and a Bulgarian.
A win over Wright would see McCloskey continue his impressive rise through the British and European rankings and bring him a step closer to a shot at David Barnes or new European Champ Gianluca Branco.
McCloskey though is refusing to look any further than July 19. “I’m on the countdown now to that fight and it’s the only thing in my mind. It’s 5 weeks from Saturday and Nigel Wright is the only guy in my sights right now.
“I’ve got an awful lot of respect for him, he’s a very good, solid fighter and a gentleman outside the ring but like Nigel says as soon as the bell goes that all goes out the window. We both have a job to do and this is another big night for me.”
McCloskey is also happy to be back in Limerick the scene of his impressive win over Mexican dangerman Manuel Garnica in February.
“I got a tremendous welcome from the fans in Limerick last time, it was almost like a home from home and I’m sure it will be just as good this time around. In fact I met a lot of people there last time that I hadn’t met since my days in the amateur game. It was a real boxing crowd and they really love their sport there.
“The only drawback is getting to Limerick from Derry – Nigel Wright will probably get there quicker than I will!”
A quality undercard on the Ladbrokes.com Fight Night will feature rising Irish welterweights Stephen Haughian and John O’Donnell. Both suffered the first setbacks of their careers in 2007 but are determined to bounce back this year.
Galway born O’Donnell tasted defeat for the first time as a pro when he was beaten on the Floyd Mayweather – Oscar De La Hoya undercard in Las Vegas but he recently got back to winning ways to improve his record to 16 and 1.
Haughian also suffered the first defeat of his career in 2007 when he lost a desperately close decision to Italian Giammario Grassellini for the IBF Intercontinental title. The 23-year-old from Lurgan will face another Italian job in Limerick when he squares off with Giuseppe Langella over 8 rounds.
Another name familiar to Limerick fight fans on the undercard is Jason McKay. The County Down man put up a brave challenge against Lee when they met for the Irish super middleweight title last December. Now back down at middleweight McKay will look to press his claims for a Commonwealth title shot with an impressive win in Limerick
There will be a little extra local interest on the card as well with Limerick’s second professional boxer, Jamie Power also on the card. The former Irish Intermediate heavyweight champ made an impressive start to his pro career with a second round KO in April and he’ll be looking to add to that in his hometown on July 19th.
“I was at Andy’s first fight in Limerick in February,” said the St. Francis clubman “and the atmosphere was incredible. I left that night knowing that I had to have a go at the pro game and I’m delighted I did. I just can’t wait for July 19th now. It will be an incredible buzz walking out to that ring in my hometown.
Tickets for the Ladbrokes.com Fight Night priced from €60 go on sale from Ticketmaster.ie and all usual outlets from 9am on Friday morning (June 13th).
