Andy Lee Throws Gauntlet Down to Challenge Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Team Andy Lee Press Release

Kronk Irish Middleweight Star, Andy Lee  (27W-1L, 19KOs) is ready and available to fight World Boxing Council (WBC) World  Middleweight Champion, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (45W- 1D, 1NC 31KOs) on June 2 or  16.

Following Chavez Jr.’s second successful  defence of his WBC title against Marco Antonio Rubio in San Antonio on February  4, 2012, Team Lee, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and HBO Boxing agreed in principle to  the Chavez Jr. V Lee fight.In the past few days Team Lee has been  made aware that Team Chavez is reluctant for Chavez Jr. to face Lee due the  Irishman’s southpaw style.

Team Lee strongly believes their fighter  has earned his place to challenge Chavez Jr. for his WBC belt. Lee is highly  ranked in the middleweight division and is currently positioned as the WBA #2  and WBO #2.

In recent months, the Kronk fighter has  also been knocking on the door of other world title shots, but was bitterly  disappointed when he failed to secures title challenges with WBC Diamond  Champion, Sergio Martinez on March 17 and WBA Super Champion, Felix Sturm on  April 13.

The Chavez Jr. v Lee fight is a war the  boxing public want to see; two young fighters doing battle for the WBC  middleweight title. This an opportunity for promoters and tv executives to  rejuvenated the sport of boxing and showcase two exciting and entertaining young  Mexican and Irish Warriors that are popular with the US television  audience.

The Irishman’s last two impressive  performances live on HBO made an emphatic statement that he has the skills and  attributes necessary to challenge and win a world title. A barnstorming  10th round KO victory over formerly unbeaten world  ranked Craig McEwan on March 12, 2011 and a boxing master class  performance against the durable Brian Vera on  October 1, 2011.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was born with  boxing in his blood and has followed in the footsteps of his legendary father  Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, six times world champion in 3 weight divisions. After  only 2 amateur bouts Julio turned pro at the age of 17 on September 26, 2003 in  Culiacan, Sinalao, Mexico. Since then the Mexican Warrior’s US promoter, Top  Rank has astutely promoted and guided their protégé over the last 8 years to  become a world champion and box office attraction at the age of  26.

Andy Lee followed a different path in  boxing; he had a successful amateur career lacing up his gloves at the age of 11  to go on to win a host of Irish national titles, multination tournaments, a  Silver medal in the World under 19s in 2002, a European Bronze senior medal in  2003 and was a 2004 Irish Olympian.

Since Lee’s pro debut at the famous Joe  Louis Arena in Detroit on March 10, 2006, Emanuel Steward has nurtured and honed  the boxing skills of his pupil and carefully chartered a pathway for his fighter  to become a world title champion.

Lee commented from Detroit today “I would  now relish the opportunity to fight for a world title. A title shot against  Julio Cesar Chavez Jr would be a challenge I would rise to. It is every boxer’s  ambition to be a world champion.

I would love to fight Julio for the WBC  title on June 2 or 16, it would be a tough fight but I believe I have the skills  to beat him. The Irish and Mexican people like a good fight, so let’s get it  on.”

The Chavez Jr v Zbik world title bout on  June 4, 2011 successfully drew 1.5 million viewers on HBO and with over 40  million people in the US of Irish descent a Chavez Jr v Lee title bout has the  potential to boost these viewing figures significantly and generate substantial  revenue for fighters, promoters and broadcasters.

Steward presently in Waldimir Klitschko’s  Training Camp commented “Andy has established himself has an entertaining  fighter in America and Europe. I think a fight between Andy and Julio would be a  great fight; they are two young fighters burning with ambition and have a track  record of being in exciting fights.

Andy is the most prominent and visible  middleweight contender resident in the United States at this time; it makes good  sporting and business sense for HBO and promoters to make the fight between Andy  and Julio.”

Team Lee are confident that if Top Rank  and Team Chavez are up to conclude discussions and negotiations for the fight,  that a deal can be done and dusted over the next few days.

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