Words of Wisdom from Emmanuel Steward

Steward: "Andy Lee Beats Kelly Pavlik Now"
By Mark Vester

Ahead of his fighter's bout on Saturday night in Limerick, trainer and manager Emanuel Steward says that middleweight prospect Andy Lee (14-0, 11KOs) can beat WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29KOs) right now.

Steward wants Lee to fight 1-2 times per month until he puts himself in position for a showdown with Pavlik at the end of the year. He also told the Belfast Telegraph that Lee is the best prospect in the world.

"Andy Lee is the best prospect in the world," says Steward. "Right now he's the best middleweight in the world. He can beat Kelly Pavlik right now."

Steward has made some very bold comments about Lee in the last few months. He views Lee as one of the best fighters that he's ever trained. Coming from the man who groomed the careers of former champs Thomas Hearns and Lennox Lewis, that statement alone shows the high hopes that Steward has for Lee. Unless he seriously steps up the competition, I'm not exactly sure if Lee will be able to seriously challenge Pavlik now, or by the end of 2008.