Andy Lee wants Darren Barker next

By Boxing News - 02/13/2013 - Comments

lee91By Scott Gilfoid: #7 WBC, Andy Lee (29-2, 20 KO’s) says he’s ready to take on former EBU middleweight champion Darren Barker (24-1, 15 KO’s) next if he’s game to take the fight. Lee wants to add the 30-year-old Barker’s scalp to his resume if their mutual promoter will allow Barker to be put in with him.

Lee this to Sky Sports last Saturday: “Barker, let’s get it on. We’ve got the same promoter, this is your network, Sky, this is your baby.”

Lee defeated Anthony Fitzgerald by a 10 round unanimous decision last Saturday night on the Carl Frampton vs. Kiko Martinez fight card at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While Lee wasn’t all that pleased with his performance, he felt he did a reasonably good job given how much heart Fitzgerald showed in the fight.

Lee wasn’t fighting without trainer Emanuel Steward, who passed away last October after battling an illness for a short period of time. Lee replaced Steward with British trainer Adam Booth, and the two didn’t seem to gel in their first fight together against Fitzgerald.

I mean, they got along well, but Booth was unable to steer Lee into fighting smart by insisting he keep off the ropes, which is where Lee was having most of his problems against the aggressive but weak punching Fitzgerald. Steward would have impressed upon Lee the need for him to steer clear of the ropes, and it’s almost assured that Lee would have followed his instructions by staying in the center of the ring.

Booth maybe needed to be more forceful with Lee because it was like he was whispering to him instead of getting heated the way that Steward would if one of his fighters was fighting a stupid fight.

Barker has already said recently that he wants to fight Lee as soon as possible, so it’s not as if Lee will have to drag Barker kicking and screaming into the ring in order for them to fight.

Lee will do well if can get this fight because Barker is one of those types that just stays in the center of the ring throwing jabs and single shots. Lee can beat someone like Barker, and look a lot better winning against him than he did against Fitzgerald.



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