I watched this fight about 30 minutes ago, and although I knew the result, I was really excited for 2 reasons. 1 being I had never seen Andy Lee fight before and I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and 2...an upset was on the horizon and that always brings great drama. I came away from the fight with lots of opinions on both Vera and Lee, but also the ref, who didn't really do his job. I didn't keep a scorecard, but up until the stoppage it's fair to say I had Lee ahead. He landed the more clean shots, and it was unbelievable how Vera wasn't knocked out prior to the 7th round. Lee has a really nice, straight and fast one-two which landed multiple times during the fight, and he did impress me throughout. On the downside, he appeared a bit timid and weak at times during the fight, but that may have been him trying desperately to fight on the outside as he had the reach and the size to take advantage of Vera. All in all, despite getting hit with a few monsterous shots, I thought Lee showed a lot of talent in his loss. He never went down, and his clean work was beautiful. Brian Vera deserves a lot of props for pulling off the upset, despite whether or not you agreed with the referee or not. He showed an incredible chin not getting knocked out by some of those awesome shots Lee hit him with, and that's to his credit. However, if one was to ask where does Vera go from here, I'd probably say nowhere. He'll most likely get at least one big pay day now he has defeated a huge prospect, but he was thoroughly outclassed up until the stoppage. Getting hit and hurt on multiple occasions, but as I said, he deserves praise for sticking it out. Well on Vera. The ref on the other hand doesn't get the same praise. It's true that Vera hit Lee with unbelievable shots that looked truely devastating, but Lee was punching back, and hit Vera with a ******* himself just as it was stopped. Anyone who sees the footage should be able to know that it was a premature stoppage on that reason alone. Bad stoppage. That's all really. First time I've seen Lee and in defeat he has made me a fan. I like how he fights, nothing fancy, but he has nice fundamentals, perhaps he should hold his hands up higher though. I still feel big things are on the horizon for this kid, and if anything this loss will do him the world of good. A stoppage in that fashion shouldn't ruin him like say a Jeff Lacy or a Meldrick Taylor so goodluck in the future for him. On a side note, up until the stoppage the fight was a great spectacle!:good
You can't just flail away on the inside with your chin in the air against a smaller opponent, he was just playing into Veras hands. It was a premature stoppage but I think Lee was going to get stopped either that round or the next. He still has that amateur 'bounce' in his footwork was well. He's got plenty to work on but at least he showed a good heart and good chin, two things you can't teach.
I was impressed by the fight and I hope Lee learns from this. He's still a decent fighter with great talent. He just has a lot more learning to do. Manny's eating his words now. So he better get to work so that dosen't happen again.
If the ref didnt stop it then, it wouldda been over in the next round, its actually better that the ref stopped when he did cause it probably would cause Lee more damage. Bottom line is that is kid was overhyped at 15-0, i mean honestly this was his first real fighter with a good resume that hes ever fought, and look what happened. This kid still has a lot to learn, specially the development of inside fighting, specially when fighting shorter fighters, this is very important. This kid is 23 he'll be back, whether or not hes gonna be a champion is a whole 'nother discussion for another day, theres no rush.
I disagree. 1. I don't like it when Manny Steward becomes more important than his fighters. Lee was getting hit with the shots, not Manny, so let's hold Lee responsible. 2. The stoppage came at when Lee was hitting his opponent back, and with flush shots. Shouldn't have been stopped at that point.
Nobody knows whether or not Lee would have been able to recover, but he should have been given the opportunity to do so. He wasn't given the opportunity.
First off the stoppage was the right thing to do. The punch Andy threw did not land flush. Vera turned his head and tucked his chin which took nearly everything off of it. watch the slo-mo. I watched the whole fight twice, and Andy took a beating. I had it 57-56 going into the 7th. Andy was 1 point ahead because of the 10-8 first round, but the 3rd was the last round he won. Vera was landind big right hands as early as the 2nd, and from the 4th round on the only way Andy stopped a Vera right was with his face. Vera was also consistently landed double jabs, pushing Lee back, and just generally bullying him around the ring. Lee had a height and reach advantage, but all in all he is not the bigger man. In fact this is the first time he has faced someone his own size with a winning record, and he got his ass handed to him. Lee has no footwork, no head movement, his handspeed sucks, his stamina was lousy, and his much vaunted power never showed up. I think the term "exposed" gets over-used here on ESB, but in this case it's appropriate. Andy Lee may still have a good future ahead of him, but the version of Lee that showed up friday night isn't even ready for the Ornelas, McKart, Marquez level let alone the Pavlik, Abraham level! Boo
I think Lee showed some impressive stuff. Lee’s opponent was one of those iron headed / power punching types that up and coming prospects should avoid until they learn how to clinch or switch paths from going to for the knockout to simply taking the win on points. I think Lee can re-bound from this loss, and get a title shot. Steward would be wise to wait a bit longer. Lee is only 23 years of age. I woud not roll the dice with him for another year or so.
Manny is getting too brave in his old age and this particular fighter wasn't up to his standards.Back to the drawing board Manny.
