There was no title on the line between Andy Lee and Peter Quillin on Saturday night in Brooklyn as the latter failed to make weight on Friday. The two still went toe to toe at the Barclays Centre.
Early exchanges were ominous for the Irish fighter. The American dropped him with just 150 seconds elapsed. Quillin appeared to have knocked Lee down again towards the end of the first but the referee ruled that the shot came momentarily after the bell. The knock down was rescinded, however the damage inflicted could not be. It was a dominant first half of the fight for Quillin as he took four of the opening six rounds. He again had Lee on the floor in the third. It was somewhat controversial though, he was undoubtedly standing on the WBO middleweight title holder's foot at the time and so restricted Lee's ability to take evasive action.
The momentum shift came in the seventh. The Irishman put his opponent on the canvas with a big right hook (watch here). From there on Lee began reducing the points deficit and pulled off a remarkable comeback. The judges scored it 113-112, 112-113 and 113-113, a split draw.
This was how Twitter reacted to the fight.
Andy showed us why he deserves to be in there at the top level, great turn around and the draw was hard earned #AndStill
— Cllr Kenneth Egan (@kenegan30) April 12, 2015
Hope the people who wrote off Andy Lee acknowledge what a ballsy display that was after an awful start.
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 12, 2015
That was some fight for @AndyLeeBoxing - no harm millions watching him be a warrior king!
— Ger Gilroy (@gergilroy) April 12, 2015
A draw that feels like a win... #AndStill what a man @AndyLeeBoxing
— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) April 12, 2015
Scores were good and fair. The questionable third round knockdown call cost Lee the fight, basically.
— Bad Left Hook (@badlefthook) April 12, 2015
Stats of the fight pic.twitter.com/7FmLbyKgga
— Liam Aherne (@laherne95) April 12, 2015
Wow! What a fight. @AndyLeeBoxing you fucking legend.
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) April 12, 2015
I'll head to bed. Andy Lee has nuts akin to a Cyrus wrecking ball!!! No need to feel compelled to give a rematch. BJS, or even Macklin next.
— BOXING IRELAND (@LoveIrishBoxing) April 12, 2015
@AndyLeeBoxing vs @KIDCHOCOLATE is a draw that's good enough for me! Was a exciting fight a lot of #action @premierboxing @NBCSports
— Jamie Kavanagh (@JamieKavanagh90) April 12, 2015
@AndyLeeBoxing showing a lot of heart and balls in this fight with @KIDCHOCOLATE
— Amir Khan (@AmirKingKhan) April 12, 2015
Peter Quillin on @AndyLeeBoxing "Do I want to fight a rematch? Yeah.Tell me how much money's involved & I'll do it." pic.twitter.com/NSAlEc3xNY
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) April 12, 2015
Picture credit: Tim Hunger / SPORTSFILE World Boxing Organization
