Former world champion and current high-profile trainer Andy Lee has made significant contributions to the boxing world.
The Irishman may be best known in 2025 for coaching Joseph Parker to victory over Martin Bakole, however, Lee has had quite a career of his own.
Lee became a boxing coach following his retirement in 2017. Making his debut in 2006, he had an impressive career that would see him retire with a professional record of 35-3-1.
The defining moment of Lee’s career as a fighter would come in 2014 when he became a world champion for the first time.
Andy Lee defeated Matvey Korobov to win world title in 2014
Following a win over John Jackson in June 2014, Lee would be granted the opportunity to fight for a world title six months later.
The Irishman would take on Matvey Korobov, an undefeated Russian-American fighter with a record of 24-0 for the vacant WBO World Middleweight title. The pair met in Las Vegas, as Korobov looked to extend his unbeaten run.
However, it was not to be for the Russian-American, as Lee would reign victorious in the bout.
Although Korobov was seemingly ahead in the fight after five completed rounds, Lee would turn things around. A slick right hook from Lee would land flush on the chin of Korobov, sending him stumbling backward.
Piling on the pressure, Korobov was unable to correctly defend himself, leading to a standing TKO defeat for the undefeated fighter.
The win would see Lee become a world champion for the first time in his second title attempt. In his first opportunity, Lee would lose via TKO to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2012.
Andy Lee would lose his belt to Billy Joe Saunders in 2015
Following Lee’s win over Korobov, a draw against Peter Quillin would follow, in a bout where the challenger did not make weight to contest for the WBO title.
This meant that when Lee took on Billy Joe Saunders in 2015 in Manchester, he would have the chance to make his first title defense. However, he would be bested by the British fighter.
After being knocked down twice in round three, Lee would lose the fight via majority decision.
Saunders would hold the belt until 2021, making six defenses. However, when Canelo Alvarez broke Saunders’ eye socket, he dropped his title to one of the greatest middleweight fighters of all time.