Boxing News: Confusion surrounds the future of Irish Olympic boxer Andy Lee.

The 21-year-old, who was Ireland's only boxing representative at the Athens Olympics and is the country's brightest hope for a medal in Beijing, is currently considering an offer to turn professional with renowned US trainer Emanuel Steward. Kronk, the fighting stable of Steward, has used Lee's name on a fight card for the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, to promote an August 13th bill.

"The August show will have an international flavour," states the promotion. "Seven-time Norwegian amateur champ Geir Inge Jorgensen will make his American debut. Jorgensen, who turned pro in 2000, has a 21-0 (9) record. In addition, Ireland's amateur sensation Andy Lee will make his professional debut."

But the Irish Sports Council, who were in contact with the fighter yesterday morning, say that Lee has not signed anything with Steward and he will not be fighting in August. The boxer is currently on holidays in France and will return to Ireland tomorrow, when he is expected to make a statement.

"He assured me that I would be first to know," said the high performance director of boxing, Gary Keegan. "He is still in negotiations and waiting on people to get back to him. What he did say to me is that he has not signed anything yet and there is no way he will be boxing in August.

"We have to be realistic but over the last two weeks there have been reports that have been taken from websites that have been inaccurate. I spoke to him this morning and he had not decided. I have a very good relationship with him and I believe him to be a lad of his word."

The probability is that Lee will turn professional and land another blow on amateur boxing, which is regularly asset stripped by the professional ranks.

The Limerick fighter was on a World Class Three training grant worth €19,500 a year, an education subvention of €3,000 and a medal win bonus as part of one of the more inventive finance packages set up by the Sports Council and unveiled last January.

November's World Championships in China would have been the first opportunity to avail of the medal bonus clause.

He would then have had two European championships, another World championship and the Olympic Games to top up his amateur worth.

"There has been no final word from Andy that he has turned professional," said an Irish Sports Council official. "As far as we are concerned he is still an amateur. We would be disappointed if he turned professional at this stage as we would be looking at him as a medal contender leading up to the Olympic Games in Beijing."

If Lee decides to go with Steward, he will join the latest group of Irish professionals who have been successful in the paid ranks, not only Kevin McBride, who recently defeated Mike Tyson but unbeaten featherweight, Bernard Dunne and Derry middleweight John Duddy.