Lee targets 2012 World title shot-wants

By Jonny Stapleton

Andy Lee is adamant he will get a much coveted world title shot in 2012 and claims if Matthew Macklin beats him to the punch and as expected fights Sergio Martinez in New York on St Patrick’s Day he wants the winner of the world title fight.

Promoter Lou DiBella has created an interesting Mexican middleweight stand off suggesting one of the Irish middleweights would get a March 17 tilt at the man deemed the best middleweight on the planet.

It seems Macklin is in Martinez pole and indeed told Mirror Sport last week that only

pound for pound ring kings Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather could prevent him from fighting the pound for pound number three.

Lee now seems resigned to playing a supporting role on what looks like a massive night for Irish boxing but is sure he will get a world title shot in 2012.

“If Macklin does fight Sergio then I will be supporting him and I will look to fight the winner,” Lee told Mirror Sport.

“At the moment I’m in the Klitschko camp. I’m working hard and staying ready. I will fight for the title in 2012, so the work I put in now will stand to me. I probably won’t fight until March and right now I don’t have any confirmation of venue or opponent. But there has been a lot of talk about NYC and St Patricks day so I’m looking forward to that and planning a big 2012.”

Seen as all three punchers are signed to DiBella it is safe to predict the Kronk fighter will be next in line for the Macklin/Martinez winner. However Lee, who is trained by legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward, could be presented with another and much easier path to world title glory.

The former Olympian has been touted as a possible opponent for Julio Cesar Chavez jnr, but doesn’t think the Mexican will defend against him.

“A Chavez fight would be great if it could be made. At this point it’s just speculation but people are talking about it so there is a demand. I would be surprised if Top Rank put Chavez in with me. He’s their cash cow and they’ve protected him well all through his career. But he is improving as a boxer and looked good against Manfredo so maybe they think he’s ready.”