By Jake Donovan

Andy Lee finally emerges as a middleweight contender.

Once a can’t miss prospect, Lee’s lone setback – a stunning stoppage loss at the hands of Bryan Vera – has held him back for more than three years. The Irish southpaw went on a tear, scoring 11 straight wins since then and has been floated as a future opponent for middleweight king Sergio Martinez.

Lee can now move forward with his career, having now exorcised past demons after scoring a dominant 10-round points win over Vera in their HBO-televised rematch Saturday evening at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The fight was the lopsided rout that everyone expected their first contest to be, with Lee putting on a masterful boxing performance. Vera was dropped hard in the second round with a left hand that caught him behind the ear while his attention was inexplicably placed elsewhere.

The night would never get better for Vera, who was cut in the third round and forced to the canvas again in the sixth when a right hook forced him to double over and touch his glove to the ring mat. Referee Steve Smoger failed to call a knockdown, though it hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.

Vera enjoyed mild late round success, including a spirited eighth round, the only round he would officially win on all three scorecards. Lee recovered and boxed smartly down the stretch to seal the win with miles to spare.

Scores were 99-90 (2x) and 98-91 for Lee, who improves to 27-1 (19KO). The win is his third of the year, a campaign that also includes a 10th round stoppage over previously unbeaten Craig McEwan in the HBO-televised co-feature to Martinez’ knockout win over Sergei Dzinziruk this past March.

Vera falls to 19-6 (12KO), snapping a two-fight win streak that also included an upset win over Sergio Mora earlier this year. The shocker over Lee three years ago didn’t produce the greatest of results – Vera is a paltry 3-6 since scoring what will most likely remain his career-defining win.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.