Irish Boxing

Brian Vera-Andy Lee: Who Wins If They Fight A Return?

by James Slater - Back in March of 2008, when they met as middleweights, Andy Lee was the upcoming star of the future, and Brian Vera was very much occupying the role of "opponent." However, there was an upset in the exciting fight and a little under seven-rounds into the bout Lee was suddenly a beaten man; a fighter who had been "exposed."

Both men have fought a number of fights since, and the two men have had differing amounts of success in doing so. Irishman Lee, still only 26, has won all of his six post-Vera bouts, three by stoppage; while Texan Vera, 28-years-old, has won just one of the four fights he has had since tearing the script up against the Emanuel Steward-trained hope..

Still, a closer look at the differing quality of opposition the two men have been fighting lets you know that Vera has been matched far tougher than has Lee; much tougher. Lee has bounced back with decent enough wins in Ireland, Germany and America, but only Willie Gibbs, who he fought in his first fight back since losing to Vera, had a good record as well as a recognisable name.

Vera, meanwhile, in not being given much of a chance to enjoy his 7th-round TKO win over the Detroit-based Limerick fighter, went in with three - count 'em, three - unbeaten fighters in a row! Losing to the currently incarcerated and lethal-punching James Kirkland (TKO by 8), the then 14-0 Craig McEwan and the then 16-0 Isaac Rodrigues (both losses coming on points), Vera had no reason to feel any shame. But his career needed a win to stop him from becoming a fulltime journeyman/trial horse. Last night in Canada, he got it.

Blasting out local man and former IBF middleweight title challenger Sebastien Demers inside three-rounds, Vera got his best win in a while. His best win since blasting out Lee, to be precise. Knowing he had to get the win or else his career at anything like top level would be over, the former "Contender" season three participant did what was needed. The question is, where does he go next?

A natural fight, at least in my opinion, would be a return fight with Lee. Sure, Vera, now 17-4(11) fought up at 168-pounds last night, and Lee's last couple of fights have been fought at just above middleweight, but if a weight could be agreed on a rematch would be a great match-up. Conceivably a rematch that could go either way (remember, Lee had Vera down in the opening round back in March of 08), Vera-Lee II wouldn't be a boring affair, that's for sure.

Southpaw

This content is protected

Lee, now 21-1(15) would have a chance at gaining himself a spot of revenge, while Vera would have himself the opportunity of capitalising on another big win. Whether the fight takes place in Ireland or in America, this prospective rematch should happen.

The fans deserve it. Both fighters deserve it. But do both fighters want it?​

 

Well done to Paddy and the rest of the Irish team hopefully this is the platform to bigger and better things for all the Irish team.

As for the Jackal another win to the record keep the good work up any chance of you getting on a Peters card in the next couple of weeks? Would be nice to see you fight in proper Ireland. Get Barry on the case you will have a better chance of getting some tv exposure here in the ring than on Sky at the moment apart from cameo appearences from ringside....

 

ya try to get on in the card in cork carlos night of the undefeateds

 

McCloskey smashes Lauri
12 June 2010 - Steve Wellings Paul McCloskey retained his European light-welterweight title in emphatic style on Friday night, blasting veteran Giuseppe Lauri to defeat in the eleventh-round of their King’s Hall clash.
The 30-year-old detonated a superb right hook to remove the plucky Italian from his senses, forcing French referee Robin Dolpierre to dispense with the academic count and call a halt to proceedings. Rather than using his classy southpaw skills and slashing hooks, McCloskey elected to stand in the trenches and trade for long periods with the rugged visitor, resulting in breaches of the rules from both parties.
Speaking in the changing rooms after a bruising encounter, the Dungiven man relived the finishing blow, “I’ve knocked out boys before,” he said, “but that was a great punch. I caught him right and his head hit the floor with a crack.”
Indeed it did and as the medical team strapped oxygen to the stricken Lauri, there was a fleeting concern for his wellbeing at ringside before the 34-year-old rose sheepishly and licked his wounds in the away corner.
“I got dragged into a fight,” continued Paul. “I’m delighted to still be European champion and John [Breen] said that when I boxed I was brilliant. I can fight a bit though and I wouldn’t blame the crowd but I did get dragged in. I didn’t fight the right fight tonight but I got the job done.”
It started out as a mixed bag for the champion, commanding centre ring to fire off his trademark combinations as Lauri plugged away in the southpaw stance. A left hand behind the ear dropped Giuseppe in the second-round but the referee saw it as a slip, before McCloskey suffered a small cut to the eyebrow after an ugly maul.
The bout swung back and forth as Paul took over in the fourth but conceded the fifth-round with Lauri landing more meaningful leather. The two exchanged a heated glare at the end of more than one session with tempers threatening to boil over.
McCloskey showed he was no shrinking violet, standing up to a man with an array of tattoos across his neck and skull. The crowd encouraged their man along as a nasty welt started to appear under his left eye and Lauri pulled him further into the trenches.
McCloskey had a point deducted in the tenth-round for an apparent headbutt and it would have been interesting to see how the judges were scoring matters. As it happened, the score totals were irrelevant as ‘Dudey’ unleashed the all-important finisher and sent the Belfast crowd into raptures.
Talk will again resurface of a fight between the Euro king and multiple belt holders in the red hot light-welterweight division. Could a World title shot be on the horizon?
“That’s the plan, it’s definitely my dream,” McCloskey stated.
“Amir Khan’s always in my sights and so are the other title holders.”
It was a quality undercard in Belfast, so stay tuned to Irish-boxing.com for details on Carl Frampton’s impressive homecoming, Stephen Haughian’s Celtic title defeat and a good win for Ciaran Healy.

 

I thought I was the only one who's not so keen on the Marty Morrissey witch hunt!
I'm just happy to have more boxing on tv and especially happy about getting to see the Euro championships so if this means having to sit through hour long Marty introductions and crap commentary so be it. It wasn't that long ago that we were getting next to no boxing on tv, now we think we can pick and choose who presents it. Give Morrissey a break lads!

 

Just saw somewhere that the judges had McCloskey 97-92 96-93 96-94 infront before the KO... Shame about O'Neill today but he will have plenty of other days and well done Barnes. When is this RTE coverage? Its not in TV guide- is it online?

 

11pm tonight!

 

Nice1:thumbsup

 

That's 11pm GMT, obviously, yeah?

 

Ya its on now in 2 mins!:happy

 

Ah Pat, I don't mean it in a derogatory sense. I swear way too much. I just use the C word like others breath in air.

I apologise to any fighter I cause offense to. And, in this case, the figther Murray faced off against was tough and willing and gutsy enough to stick in there.

Pat don't take it as disrespect. It just a turn of phrase.

I'm nowhere near fit, dedicated or tough enough to box at any level so don't think for one second I don't respect what any boxer does

 

stop kissin ass ya chunt!

 

Tried to update on Kings Hall but internet failed on my phone. But BamBam kept you lads updated anyway. If BamBam has no footage of Carlos- I could upload 1st & 6th rounds if anyone wants? "Bigric's" seats were great- up on balcony.

 

Now, posting on this thread is one thing and writing an article is another - I am pretty damn sure Bam Bam wouldnt refer to a boxer as a **** in his write-up and if you read his posts on here his use of the C-word is a bit of craic.

I met Bam Bam at the Kings Hall and he is good lad who loves his boxing like all of us - so let's not take comments on here too seriously, so we can take the **** of each other. That said, we can have the odd aul row too - if its called for - that's ok too [contradiction]

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dhu02JQ4Zs[/ame]