Ireland’s Andy Lee was fighting for career survival last night as he was on, and almost through, the ropes at Madison Square Garden. Then he landed one of the most devastating knock-out punches ever seen at the famous arena to win the NABF light middleweight title.
Lee was in trouble early on in the fight, suffering a knock down in the first round and looking second best for the following three rounds. In round five Lee looked in serious trouble as John Jackson had the Limerick southpaw against the ropes, weathering a flurry of blows. If Jackson had finished Lee in the fifth there would have been few believing the Irishman could bounce back and make it once again to challenge for a world title. Lee’s future in the ring was dependant on his reaction as Jackson went for the finish. Few of Jackson’s barrage were landing however, and Lee took advantage of the less experienced fighter’s over exuberance with a massive right hook that had Jackson out cold before he hit the canvas.
The knockout blow had Andy Lee's name trending on Twitter in the US last night.
Andy Lee went from people thinking his career was a few secs from being over to trending in the US along with StanleyCup & CaliforniaChrome
— Jorge Alarcon-Swaby (@alarconswaby) June 8, 2014
The win moves Lee to 33-2 and sees him crowned NABF Light Middleweight Champion.
'Job done' @boxingbooth pic.twitter.com/jZLhVbWZbn
— Andy Lee (@AndyLeeBoxing) June 8, 2014
Lee was fighting on the undercard of the middleweight title bout between Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and Argentinean Sergio Martinez. Cotto won the fight with a TKO just seconds into the tenth round, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent years and making history as the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles at four weights.
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