ANDY LEE has called out Gennady Golovkin and Danny Jacobs as he looks to force his way back into the world title mix.
Former WBO middleweight king Lee (34-3-1) is eager to return to the ring after taking time off following his world title loss to Billy Joe Saunders in December last year. Kazakh switch-hitter ‘Triple G’ stopped Kell Brook in London on Saturday, while Jacobs took out Sergio Mora in the US a few hours later. Both are top of his list although the county Limerick southpaw would also be interested in fights with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez or Miguel Cotto.
He was scheduled to take on Golovkin at Madison Square Garden, New York in April 2014, but the fight had to be cancelled due to the death of Golovkin’s father and hasn’t been rescheduled. It has emerged that Lee’s handlers were sounded out about a possible fight with Jacobs in May this year and with his batteries recharged after an extended break, the Manny Steward protege is anxious to get back into the picture.
“I’ve had a bit of a lay-off since my last fight, but I want to get back to boxing,” he said.
“What better way to get back than in a championship fight? I’d have no qualms about challenging Danny or Gennady or any other top fighter - I’m in the business of fighting; that is what I do for a living. I want to test myself and fight and beat the best, that has been my motivation during my career.”
Lee ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to making a world middleweight title fight opponent. He is a genuine 160lb fighter and his height, southpaw stance, punching power, show-stopping right hook and accurate straight left make him a dangerous opponent for anyone.
The Adam Booth-trained fighter lost a WBC title challenge to Julio Cesar Chavez jnr in 2012 but he is a recognised, popular and marketable scrapper. He demonstrated his star quality when he pulled victory out of the jaws out defeat by knocking out John Jackson in New York back in 2014.
His right hook came to the rescue again when he fought the undefeated Matt Korobov to win the WBO world title in Las Vegas later that year. Again he was behind on the scorecards but Lee came out in the sixth like a freight train and launched a stinging barrage of punches on the Russian that forced referee Kenny Bayliss to stop the fight.
A spokesman for Team Lee argued: “A fight with Jacobs in New York before Christmas makes good sporting and business sense, both fighters can bang and that makes it attractive for the fans and TV audience.
“Jacobs is from Brooklyn and Andy’s Irish fanbase in New York makes it a marketable fight and hit at the box office. A fight with Golovkin offers GGG the opportunity to take care of unfinished business from 2014 and silence the critics by fighting a genuine 160lb world class fighter and a fight location in Europe or the United States provides options for promoters.
“Andy is back in the gym and looking forward to lacing his gloves up and getting back to business.”
