Alex Grimm - Bongarts/Getty Images
Felix Sturm's next ring appearance could see him opposed by Andy Lee. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Andy Lee was set to make his return to the ring on March 17 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, part of the undercard for the Sergio Martinez vs Matthew Macklin show. But now it appears he may not have to wait much longer to receive the world title shot that Lou DiBella promised him at a press conference for that event.
Lee appears headed for an April 13 clash in Germany against WBA middleweight titlist Felix Sturm, according to BoxingScene.com, with DiBella negotiating for the fight, which Lee and trainer/manager Emanuel Steward want badly.
"We are talking with Sturm's people. Andy wants a big fight. He wants to fight Felix Sturm. Andy and Emanuel Steward want the fight. They want me to pursue this opportunity and that's why Andy is not fighting on March 17th. He wants to hold out for a big opportunity. Sturm doesn't have an opponent for April and we hope to make that fight," Lee's promoter, Lou DiBella, told BoxingScene.com.
Lee (27-1, 19 KO) is coming off of a pair of HBO wins in 2011 over Craig McEwan and Brian Vera, and has been pressing DiBella to deliver a title shot this year.
Sturm (36-2-2, 15 KO) had a rockier 2011 in the ring, but did compete in a couple of very memorable fights and was competitive in both. His June win over Matthew Macklin was a great battle, decried as a robbery by some but in reality a highly-entertaining bout where Sturm gave as good as he got and proved his toughness, and his December draw with Martin Murray was another very good fight.
It's clear that Sturm, turning 33 in 11 days, is in decline. He was never a great fighter, but he's slowed down enough that he's now far more vulnerable than ever before, and he gets hit a lot more than he used to, with harder, cleaner shots.
Lee, 27, and Steward likely view this as their gateway into the top of the division, and as Lee is a lefty with power, he could be a real nightmare for Sturm, who allegedly ducked out of rematch talks with Macklin by demanding too much, and has reportedly not even spoken with Murray about a rematch.
With Lee off of the March 17 card, it's expected that super middleweights Edwin Rodriguez and Don George will be given the co-feature slot. Both are bangers with lousy defense, so that should be an exciting fight while it lasts.
0 recs | 13 comments
As much as this won’t surprise anybody, I really favour Lee to do a job on him.
Duan - January 20, 2012
It's a good fight opportunity for Andy Lee
and a good fight for Sturm. This would be Sturm’s third legitimate defense over an one year period.
rantcatrat - January 20, 2012
Props to Sturm, who must be aware that his skills are declining, but is actually taking tough fights against legit opponents instead of hiding behind mandatory defenses.
Verklemptomaniac - January 20, 2012
I agree with this. A part of me thinks that he is aware that his skills are declining, so if he is going to lose, it may as well be to somebody good. If Sturm wins, it wouldn’t even surprise me if he fought Martinez after that.
Also I don’t think Lee is on the same level as Macklin, and I don’t think that he is that much ahead of Martin Murray. For me Barker v Lee is a pick ’em.
Eoin_not_ian - January 20, 2012
I like Andy Lee.
RyanSexton - January 20, 2012
This is a very interesting fight! I like it. Great argument to be made for Lee in this fight.
Sammlung - January 20, 2012
So has sergio’s fight found a network yet? And i’m assuming no way lee-sturm ends up on hbo?
battle axe of doom - January 20, 2012 via mobile
It’s on HBO. Sturm vs Lee won’t get on HBO since Sturm has taken to fighting Fridays. Also HBO doesn’t care about Sturm or Germany.
Scott Christ - January 20, 2012
Good fight
This is quality— I’d definitely be excited to see this one. It’s a pick ‘em fight and you don’t see enough of those these days.
SilverLaker - January 20, 2012
i still like sturm in this one
first, it’ll be in germany and second, lee’s defense is awful
nickfoxx - January 20, 2012
I would go with Sturm too. Lee does have a pretty bad defense and he was getting outboxed by a lesser fighter in McEwan. Lee has tremendous ability on offense but needs to tighten up that defense to compete with Sturm.
36_chambers_ofdeatH - January 20, 2012
No.1 spot with the IBF?
Is Rodriguez vs George for the mandatory position of Lucian Bute?
MontrealBoxing - January 20, 2012
Not sure, but either No. 1 or No. 2, I’m guessing, since both spots are vacant.
Scott Christ - January 20, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bad Left Hook to post a comment.