6/17/2023 0 Comments Emanuel steward on andy lee![]() ![]() At this early stage, he’s built a team of trusted friends and advisors, and takes a leap of faith. Courted by the Irish national team and American investors, Lee reflects (not for the last time) on how to make impossible business decisions with a boxing career. Young and unsavvy in business, Lee respectfully declines, citing his focus on the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens.įollowing a devastating, medalless Olympic defeat to Alfredo Angulo, Andy begins to imagine what’s next. Famed champion-maker Emanuel Steward hears of Lee’s recent tournament victory and calls the teenager at home with a proposal: come train with him at Detroit’s Kronk Gym and sign a professional contract. “The thing that made me distinctive, the thing I told people about myself.”Īs he continues to add to an already impressive amateur resume, we see Andy’s account of the phone call that changed the course of his career. He finds an identity in boxing: “It became a part of who I am,” he writes. “I just didn’t want to let anybody down.” Quickly, we see his evolution from kid brother trying to keep up, into a talented, hungry athlete.Īndy’s family move to Limerick finds him on the receiving end of schoolyard bullying, loneliness. “As a kid, I never wanted to be a world champion,” Lee writes. Lee had his hand raised often, even as a young boxer. At age eight, he begins training at Repton Boxing Club. ![]() Born to Irish Traveller parents in London, Lee’s boxing story begins from play fighting (and bloody, not-so-playful fighting) with his brothers. Glossy pages of the book show photographs of Andy’s life and career, and the chubby youngster pictured is almost unrecognizable from the 6’2”, lanky world champion he will become. Lee’s autobiography Fighter, written with Niall Kelly, is a candid reflection on a life in the sweet science. “A fighter’s personality reflects in their boxing style, and if nothing else I was honest.” It seems the adage extends to a fighter’s memoir, too. Lee, who captured the vacant WBO middleweight title with a sixth-round stoppage win over Matvey Korobov in December 2014 and lost it to Billy Joe Saunders one year later, announced his retirement on Off the Ball last Monday, calling it a day with a stellar record of 35-3-1(24).When Andy Lee announced his retirement in early 2018, he was asked how he’d like to be remembered. Just “keep on punching” my man and remember I’m in your corner. You’ll do well in your another chapter of your new life. ![]() I admire you and so did Emanuel and people that are close to you. You were an amazing champion and pperson. Later.”Īndy, congrats on your retirement. Just ‘keep on punching’ my man and remember I’m in your corner. You’ll do well in another chapter of your new life. “You were an amazing champion and person. “Andy, congrats on your retirement,” wrote Klitschko, who himself retired last year. Thus, when he took to Twitter on Saturday to wish Lee a happy retirement, Klitschko ended his tweet with a really touching message for his one-time training partner. Due to the fact that they shared a trainer for so many years, Klitschko and Lee regularly trained alongside one another, even sparring on occasion despite the massive difference in their size. ![]()
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