BOXING: Swindon trainer backs Lee's title bid (From Swindon Advertiser)

BOXING: Swindon trainer backs Lee's title bid

6:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in Sport By Andy Warren

TRAINER Paddy Fitzpatrick has urged fighter Andy Lee to put his recent world title heartbreak behind him when he faces Anthony Fitzgerald in Belfast tonight.

The Irishman lost to Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr in June when the pair fought for the WBC World Middleweight Title in El Paso, despite dominating the early rounds.

Swindon’s Fitzpatrick has been working with renowned trainer Adam Booth during Lee’s training camp, and thinks he needs to put his previous defeat right to the back of his mind for the fight at the Odyssey Arena.

“There are a lot of factors in this fight coming off a defeat in the last fight, in which he was leading on the cards but getting beaten up a bit at the same time,” he said.

“All of that will be as big a factor as he lets it be, because none of it really matters when he gets in the ring, it is all about this fight now.

“Every fight which comes along is the biggest fight, because it is not like football where you have a chance to put things right next week, you sometimes have to wait a long time for that.”

Fitzpatrick has been impressed with the way Lee has worked in the six-month training camp, but warned Fitzgerald is a dangerous prospect.

“I know every fighter says they are in great shape following a training camp, but he really is looking good,” he said.

“He has been training for this since August, and everything is where it needs to be.

“His opponent is no mug, and he won’t be overawed by this occasion, so Andy just needs to be at his best.”