#39: ‘Fighter’ by Andy Lee (with Niall Kelly)

‘Fighter’ is the autobiography of Andy Lee.

I wasn’t expecting much from this book except to get a better insight into the career of a boxer who I mainly know from his TV work here in the UK, and as the trainer of the likes of Joseph Parker. It turned out to be so much more than that, covering a fantastically interesting life inside and out of the ring.

Lee was born into an Irish Traveller family with a firm boxing tradition, boxing as an amateur as a young boy for Repton, and successfully representing Ireland at international level. Lee turned professional as a result of an offer from Emmanuel Steward at the world famous Kronk Gym in Detroit, living in Steward’s family home while he settled into life on another continent.

I’ve been consistently frustrated with the lack of books focusing on the Kronk Gym and/or Steward, so this book offers a brilliant insight into how new fighters are ‘welcomed’ into the gym, needing to fight their way toward any form of respect from the established club fighters. It all sounds frantically intimidating. If anyone knows of any more books about Kronk, then drop me an email and let me know.

Lee’s story is a fairly familiar one – brilliant young amateur with the world at his feet struggles to realise his potential as a professional due to injury, bad luck and unfortunate timing. There are a lot of parallels here with current fighter Michael Conlan who, unlike Lee, looks like he’ll be finishing his career without a world title.