After first being reported last week, it was confirmed yesterday that Limerick's former WBO World middleweight champion Andy Lee will return to the ring next month.
Lee trades leather with unheralded American KeAndre Leatherwood at New York's Madison Square Garden just a night after Michael Conlan makes his professional debut at the same venue's 'Theater' arena.
The 32-year-old's return to the ring is a more-than-tasty bonus for the 1,000 or so Irish fans who have already booked flights to watch Lee's fellow Olympian Conlan dip his fists in the paid ranks on St. Patrick's Day.
Of course, those who opt to return to MSG and roar on Lee a night later will also be treated to a potentially enthralling World middleweight championship fight between the all-conquering Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin of Kazakhstan and Brooklynite Danny Jacobs - two elite-level fighters who, in recent months and years, have both been linked with potential fights versus 'Irish' Andy.
Speaking to ESPN's Dan Rafael when Lee's fight on Golovkin's undercard was announced, Triple G's promoter Tom Loeffler explained why he pushed for Lee's inclusion at The Garden, and the lasting respect between both fighters and camps.
We have a lot of respect for Andy because he was one of the guys who agreed to fight Gennady, but it didn't happen because Gennady's father passed away.
But we have a good relationship with Andy and I thought it made a lot of sense to have him on the card. A future fight between Gennady and Andy is always something to consider.
Out of respect for Andy agreeing to fight Gennady back then, when nobody would fight him, it made sense to have him on the show, especially on St. Patrick's Day weekend.
He's no stranger to the New York fans and the Irish fans. He's in a very competitive fight for his first fight back.
Lee signed to fight Golovkin in 2014, with the fight originally scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden's 'Theater' - the same arena as where Mick Conlan debuts on March 17th.
A win on March 18th of this year will propel Lee back into the conversation as a prospective opponent for the new Baddest Man On The Planet.
Golovkin has held at least one version of the middleweight championship since 2010. He was won 17 consecutive world title fights, all of them finishing inside the distance. Since he first picked up a world belt, 18 other men have also won a version of the world title.
Only two of these men have fought Golovkin. It would have been three, had family tragedy not scuppered the original GGG-Lee clash three years ago.
