Andy Lee: I am Ready for Sergio Martinez

By Jonny Stapleton

MATTHEW Macklin may have beaten Andy Lee in the race to face Sergio Martinez, but the Limerick pugilist still believes he is primed to beat the pound for pound number 3.

Promoter Lou DiBella created a Mexican stand off between the Argentine and the two Irish fighters when revealing he planed to put one of the Emerald warriors in with the WBC Champion on St Patrick’s Day.

Macklin stole Martinez pole over the last few months and but for the WBC making Julio Cesar Chavez Jr mandatory for Maravilla last week would have signed a deal to fight the 36 year old.

It seems Lee, who has twice appeared as chief support for Martinez and has been tipped to appear on the March 17 show, will loose out this time, but regardless feels he is ready to move to world title level.

“I believe that I’m ready for him,” states Andy Lee. “Obviously, Sergio is the best in the division and he deserves the WBC Diamond Belt. But in me, he faces a guy that he’s never seen before; someone who is physically bigger than he is who can actually punch, and someone with the technical skills to give him trouble as well.”