Andy Lee will be gunning for a knockout when he squares off with undefeated World Boxing Council [WBC] middleweight titlist Julio César Chávez, Jr., in the putative lion’s den that will be El Paso’s 51,000-capacity Sun Bowl Stadium, June 16.
“I think eight, nine rounds it will be over,” Lee’s trainer-manager Emanuel Steward boldly predicted to the Echo.
And in an interesting development, Lee’s preparations could receive a major assist from the most unlikely of sources: Brian Vera, the only man to beat him in the paid ranks.
Vera, a tough Texan himself who controversially stopped Lee in seven heats four years ago
but was convincingly outpointed in their
rematch last October, has been enlisted to spar with the Limerick southpaw ahead of the Chávez fight.
Steward told the Echo last Sunday that Vera, explosive punching super middleweight Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez and a top light heavyweight were being sought to work with his charge as they leave none of the proverbial stones unturned in their preparations for Chávez [45-0-1, 31 KOs].
“We’re training for a knockout and we’ll be ready,” the Hall of Fame trainer said, supremely confident of adding Lee to a glittering list of world champions, including Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya and Wladimir Klitschko that he’s worked with.
Still, he conceded that they’d be entering the lion’s den when they step into the ring at the Sun Bowl. El Paso borders Mexico's Ciudad Juarez, a factor in the University of Texas [UT] chancellor’s short-lived decision last week to disallow the Sun Bowl as the venue for the bout due to “heightened security issues.”
According to reports, the security concern was fear that a war between rival Mexican drug cartels from Ciudad Juarez could spill across the border. According to the Associated Press, the cartels have declared the event a “neutral zone.”
The UT chancellor, however, bowed to pressure from El Paso city officials and reversed his decision with conditions, one of them being a ban on alcoholic beverages.
Yet even while agreeing that Lee would be fighting on hostile territory more favorable to the Mexican-born Chávez, Steward is not worried over any likely impact that could have on the outcome of the fight.
“Andy will knock him out; I’m not worried about a decision,” the Kronk gym godfather stated. “I think eight, nine rounds it will be over.”
“Andy will stop him [he has] too much experience,” Steward reiterated. “Andy’s got a lot of experience from the Olympics, the world juniors [and] all the other national tournaments he took part [as an amateur].”
Steward further touted the experience the 28-1 [20 KOs] Lee has garnered in six years as a pro sparring with a slew of top world champions. They include heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko, new light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson who defeated Bernard Hopkins last week; and former champions Jermain Taylor and Kermit Cintron.
Physically, the 6-foot-2 Lee is the naturally bigger man, holding a two-inch edge over Chávez who’s listed at six-foot.
“One of the biggest advantages everyone’s always been talking about with Chávez is size advantage [but] he didn’t realize Andy’s bigger than him, much bigger,” noted Steward.
HYLAND PREPS
Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland is shaping up well for his May 12 match in upstate Poughkeepsie with veteran Frankie Archuleta, said the Dubliner’s American trainer Tracy Harris Patterson.
The unbeaten Irish super featherweight prospect [25-0, 11 KOs] is scheduled to go ten rounds with Archuleta [27-9-1, 14 KOs] in the “Irish Invasion” main event at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.
“Patrick's not far from a world title shot,” said Patterson, a two-time world champ himself. “He just hasn't been given an opportunity, yet, to step into the ring with an opponent who can get him in position for a world title shot. He's at the door now.”
In Archuleta, the 28 year-old Hyland faces a former New Mexico and Texas State champion best known for upsetting five-time world champion Johnny Tapia.
The "Irish Invasion" card is presented by Final Round Promotions, in association with Team Snooki Boxing and Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions, and sponsored in part by Title Boxing.
Tickets, priced at $35, $50 and $100 [gold ringside], are available at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and through all Ticketmaster outlets. Visit www.finalroundpromotions.com for more information.
