This is probably a bit premature, but with how Andy Lee has taken these four fighters and improved their game, Whittaker and Sheeraz within a few weeks especially. Is he currently the most in form coach when it comes to building and improving fighters? All four are potential title holders with only Parker having been a champ before. If Andy Lee guides them all through to title bouts would that be enough to shoot him to one of the top coaches in the world. He will have his first champion in Donovan if he beats Crocker in their upcoming Welterweight fight for the IBF, which is looking likely considering the first fight. Do you see Andy Lee succeeding in becoming a hall of fame coach?
I agree - he’s clearly the most in form, and should be frontrunner for trainer of the year. the proof goes deeper than the results alone show too - Parker has been transformed under him, but also both Sheeraz and Whittaker posted their best performances BY FAR under his tutelage after only one camp. Add to the fact that he has been bringing Donovan on from essentially scratch…that’s a very effective resume with a broad range of bases covered (developing, improving, and rebuilding fighters). his fighters also seem to love him, which tends to say a lot too. just a very impressive year.
I'm not sure how much Andy Lee contributed to Sheeraz performance tonight. Outside of his previous fight Sheeraz has been lights out.
Apparently Andy Lee helped with the tactics of the fight as well as the camp. He kept Sheeraz calm and told him to not take too many risks early, and then told Sheeraz to start walking forward to Berlanga from the 4th which had the result we all saw. I think Andy Lee has a presence in the corner which keeps his fighters confident and relaxed which can deliver underrated value. He also gives clear instructions and tactics based on how the fight is going. He said he knew they were losing rounds, but also knew that Sheeraz would win and could feel the KO was there.
Lee was not only trained by the late great Manny Steward for a long time he lived with him for many years too and would've learned so much from him so Manny deserves a share of this credit too Lee is all but guaranteed a world champion this year what with Paddy O Donovan facing Crocker for the vacant world title and some of the belts at HW and SMW will likely be freed up this year too so J-Park and Sheeraz might be able to pick one of those up. Big Frank has secured three world title shots for Yarde despite Yarde never having beaten anyone apart from Lyndon Arthur and Sheeraz is one of Turki's favourites and Berlanga was ranked top 5 by all the sanctioning orgs too so Sheeraz is all but guaranteed a world title shot this year or early next year if not. Edit: I didn't even realize it was for the mandatory WBC spot. Sheeraz is Clenelo's mandatory
His work with Donovan has been brilliantly. He instantly improved Sheeraz and Ben Whittaker after poor performances and helped turn Parker around. Fury would have been better off with Andy Lee head trainer instead of helping Sugar.
Yes, very good trainer and I should imagine will be receiving more requests from fighters to train them after this run of form
That is the thing, I'm not sure if they could work together, Fury and Andy Lee. They would probably have clashes in how things should go, Andy Lee seems pretty strict on only working with fighters he can get along with.