Middleweight Andy Lee remained in contention for his own world title shot by scoring an easy second round KO over late substitute Saul Duran in Novi, Mich., last Saturday night.
Lee had Duran, a last minute replacement for Mexican compatriot Alexis Camacho, on the canvas in the opening stanza of the scheduled ten-rounder at the Suburban Collection Showplace.
A barrage of punches to the head and body forced the referee to rescue the 39 year-old Duran 54 seconds into the second round. The Limerick southpaw upped his pro ledger to 28-1 with 20 KOs. Duran dropped to 40-30 [33 KOs].
The non-title fight was the main event of a show billed "Kronk Fight Night," promoted by Lee's trainer-manager Emanuel Steward.
Ranked number two in the world by both the WBA and WBO, Lee said later that he would have preferred to go more rounds with Duran, who fights out of Chihuahua, Mexico and debuted as a super featherweight back in 1993.
"They should have let the fight go longer," Lee told the Detroit Free Press. "Let him get knocked out. A lot of people came to watch this fight. I would have liked more of a contest. But he took the fight at short notice, so I kind of understand."
The bout was designed to keep Lee busy while he waits for a world title opportunity. The Irishman, who's 27, has in the last six weeks seen possible fights with WBA titlist Felix Sturm and WBC holder Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., fall through.
MOORE DISAPPOINTED
A disappointed James Moore has been overlooked for the "Irish Prizefighter" tournament planned for May 5 in Belfast.
The Queens-based Arklow light middleweight was eyeing a move up to middleweight to contest the eight-man one-day competition whose winner will bag a 32,000-pound sterling purse.
The snub follows approaches to the 17-3 [10 KOs] Moore from Ireland to gauge his interest in the event. "Disappointed to say the least," he told the Echo.
Moore, who last fought in June 2010, has been back in the gym since Christmas. Asked if he'd continue his comeback, he said: "I'll see what happens - if something pops up we'll see what happens."
