I think yesterday's fight showed that what you are doing when you are hyping a fighter too much is 1) get his opponents twice as motivated, 2) inflate the kid's ego, 3) create expectations that are way too high for a kid that is still learning. Yesterday could have been a good test, learning exercise, if Andy Lee hadn't been hyped like that by Manny. - Vera would've probably not spend 7 weeks in training for this fight (I can guarantee you Lee didn't have a 7 weeks camp for this one, as he is in the fight often, stay busy mode). For Lee this was business as usual, for Vera this was his shot of a lifetime and in boxing this means a lot. - Lee would've probably been more cautious early, more patient, and would've probably not spent all his bullets looking for the early KO so that he can keep up with these expectations. I think many people should learn from Pavlik's rise to the top. He did it in the dark, but this allowed him to learn what he had to learn. Now he's a very mature fighter at 25.
Lee needs to get the hell away from stewart. It was like watching a white Jermain Taylor. Hands low, bad stamina, backing straight up, getting pushed around by a MUCH smaller guy, camping out on the ropes.
I know. Manny sucks balls. NONE of his fighters can fight on the inside unless they had prior training. They are defenseless. No reason JT should not of learned anything new to his game rather then just fighting off of the jab. This is boxing god damn it..
I don't know Lee's straight left didn't seem to affect Vera, could it be that Lee has no power in his left? He is a converted southpaw after all.
I thought that Lee looked good in the early going, but he underestimated his opponent, and was taken into deep waters...he never even fought in the 7th round before. Its possible that he trained for the KO and not to go the full distance. The big flaw is his style is...backing straight up, just like Klitchko, no lateral movement what so ever...im sure it works fine for him when his opponent is in a defensive mode, but when you got a wildman Vera coming at you,,,backsing straight up is the worst thing you can do...he should have moved side to side and tied it him... thats my 2 cents
i think this is the main thing. boxers shouild never be registered as a prospect when they are undefeated...or vica versa be rewgarded bums if they have a loss on his record. unbeaten usually means untested. and fighters are getting cuagth up to be big time before they have got into double figures. jaidon codrington was a good one a good banger witha jab and a nice left hook and right hand was doing well but was already seen as a true threat to the division. and when they step up they get destroyed. we are losing the old style way of fighting contenders or at least respectable fighters. one of my fav fighters is Mike Watson i have almost all of his fights though very grainy you can see he improves with each fight. he fights people who were tough tough tough but never goign to make it big time. and every fight he improved using different styles using different tactics trying different punches. this is lost in the modern sport and it kinda has to. you look at the most promoted fighters in the wolrd and you will find that they are unbeaten...you got to be to look like a useable product. though some fighters get out of the loop by being excitign or atleast an attraction. which i think andy lee will become. he is selling tickets. he punches is a decent enough boxer but needs excpereince. also the contender has helped guys like this get contention. we knew manfredo was going to be world class but we dont know if he would of retired or still be in the lime light if he hadnt gone on the contender. same with alphonzo gomez he wouldnt be worth anything to anyone outside of boxing fans if the contender got on his case. it's sad that he has a shot at beating cotto and yet it was only a television show that got him the place.
Good question. I said in another thread that either Vera has a chin of granite or I have vastly overrated Lee's power.
After reading nothing but good things about Lee, I was looking forward to seeing him in action for the first time last night. I must say that after last night he was a thorough disapointment in every respect. He looked like a rank amateur in there and the fact that his opponent looked even more amateurish and sloppy and that he lost to him should dispel any notion that this kid could make it to the top. He had terrible footwork, was completely clueless as to how to tie up his man when in close and he seemed to be winded after five rounds of heated fighting. His chin is also clearley less than reliable, although I`ll give the kid credit in the heart department as that is what kept him on his feet while he was getting pummeled. I must say though that the stoppage was rather premature, for the referee to step in there at the very moment that Lee uncorked a flush left hand smack on Vera`s kisser was ridiculous. Frankly Steward should have thrown in the towel to save his young pupil from further punishment before the referee stepped in. Lee is very limited and clearly has a long way to go and many things to learn about basic boxing fundamentals before he even thinks of getting within sniffing range of a championship. Sadly he is just another example of a fighter who was being groomed towards a title shot far too prematurely while padding his record in the process.
I think the ref saved Lee's life. Let's say Lee goes on to win a decision, and then gets his shot at Pavlik. Pavlik kills him in the ring. Sad to say but I could see that happening to either Lee or Duddy, too much heart. God gave you two hands, there is no reason for you to block punches with your head.
