Lake: Lee should be patient

20 July 2008 – By Mark Doyle

Joe Lake has advised Andy Lee against rushing into a world title fight.

Lake was in Willie Gibbs’ corner for Saturday’s middleweight bout with Lee in Limerick and was impressed by the young Irishman’s performance.

Indeed, after watching the 24-year-old middleweight stop his man, the American firmly believes that Lee is a future world champion.

However, he sees no reason why Lee should try to seek out a fight with Kelly Pavlik before he’s ready.

I was also at Andys fight against Brian Vera and hes got to get through it because three things happen to a genuine prizefighter: youre going to get robbed; youre going to get stopped on a cut; youre going to get knocked out,” Lake opined at the post-fight press conference.

So, if you have a real career, thats going to happen to you. But tonight [Saturday], Lee showed real guts. Hes a tough kid. He was in a real fighter tonight in Willie.

A lot of people over here have been asking me, what do you think about Lee fighting Kelly Pavlik?

Well, my advice to Andy is: whats the rush? I think he need more experience because hes only 24 years old, hes already a star and a celebrity over here, so there should be no hurry for him.

Hes going to be a world champion one day; theres no need to rush it.