BOXING:ANDY LEE is being lined up for a shot at a European title after registering his 21st victory from 22 outings after Senegal-born Mamadou Thiam retired on his stool, claiming he suffered a back injury, at the end of the second round at the University of Limerick Sports Arena on Saturday night.
Lee, looking sharp and focused, had been dominating up to the point when referee Emile Tiedt waved the fight off.
The local man had sent the Paris-based middleweight reeling toward a neutral corner with a superb right off the back foot in the opening frame.
The Limerick southpaw began teeing off on Thiam’s head again in the second, a consistent flow of jabs, hooks and even a neat little left uppercut finding the target as Thiam – except for some wild and crude overhand rights – failed to respond.
Thiam slipped three times during his six minutes in the ring and his coach claimed that was how he did his back in.
However, from ringside, it looked like the African had mentally thrown in the towel after Lee detonated his first-round right.
Promoter Brain Peters said the 2004 Irish Olympian could challenge for Darren Barker’s European crown in the autumn in Limerick.
But while Lee responded positively to the suggestions, he stressed the world title is his ultimate goal.
“The European title would be nice to win but my goal has always been to be world champion,” he said. “It is still my dream.
“Emanuel (Steward, his trainer) and myself have been discussing the right route to get there and we are plotting that right now.”
Steward added: “I still say this – the best middleweight in the world is right here from Limerick.”
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