Lee: I would stop Felix Sturm

Jonny Stapleton

ANDY Lee believes Felix Sturm is on the slide and is confident he would end the reign of ‘King Leonidas’ if he got the chance to challenge the world middleweight champion on April 13.

The Limerick southpaw sparked rumors of a potential WBA title tilt with the German, who controversially defeated Matthew Macklin last year, when he withdrew from the March 17 Madison Square Garden card.

The Kronk fighter has now revealed talks are underway but stressed no agreement has been made.

The Emmanuel Steward trained former Olympian reiterated his desire to go to Germany and confidently predicted he would stop the long reigning champ if they did trade leather.

Speaking to On The Ropes Boxing Radion the Irish middleweight said:

“I know there was initial contact with Lou DiBella (lee’s promoter). If the offer was right I would definitely be willing to go over there. It would have to make sense, but I don’t see much danger in Sturm. He has a good style. He’s a very effective boxer, but I believe I can knock Sturm out. I think I’m much bigger and hit way too hard. I think we’ve seen in his last few fights that he’s just on the slide a little bit. So I would be very confident in stopping him, and going over there and getting a knockout or a late stoppage,” Lee declared.

Lee has been actively seeking a world title shot for the last 12 months. He was disappointed when fellow Irish middleweight Matthew Macklin beat him to the punch and secured a clash with Sergio Martinez and he could be left frustrated again if the German deems him too dangerous and refuses to fight him.

However Lee remains positive and thinks it is only a matter of time before he gets his shot.

“I’m well positioned. All I need is a chance, for one of these champions to give me a chance and they will lose their belts. I’m ready! This is my time, and this is the year really for me, my breakout year where I win a world title and hopefully do it in enough time to defend it this year.”