Andy Lee

WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee’s defence of his title against Hatfield’s Billy Joe Saunders, that was scheduled for Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland has been postponed until October 10th and moved to the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England.

In a joint statement last night from co-promoters Frank Warren and Adam Booth, it was claimed the Irishman is suffering from a virus that means the September date was potentially in jeopardy;

“Andy’s had a virus and he’s recovering from it, or he’s about recovered from it, according to Adam Booth, who’s contacted me.,” Warren said.

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Andy Lee’s trainer Adam Booth, who oversaw David Haye’s rise to cruiser and heavyweight stardom, is looking forward to September’s bragging rights fight between his man and Billy Joe Saunders, which sees two men from the travellling community contesting a version of a world title for the first time in history.

There has already been something of a boxer/puncher narrative unfolding regarding the fight between the two southpaws, and speaking to Sky Sports, Booth suggested he wouldn’t be surprised to see tactics thrown out of the window on the night in much the same way Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns threw out the rule book in their legendary 3 round war in 1985.

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On September 19th at Thomond Park, Limerick, a massive fight for British and Irish boxing will go down, when WBO middleweight champion ‘Irish’ Andy Lee defends his title against mandatory challenger, Hatfield’s Billy Joe Saunders.

The bout will be historic in that it will be the first time two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title, and talking to iFLtv this week, Saunders gave an insight into the significance of the fight within their communities;

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“I’m very proud to bring this fight Limerick” were the words of WBO 160 lb champion Andy Lee earlier today, when his September 19th fight with unbeaten mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders was officially announced via a press conference at Thomond Park, Ireland.

Lee, who won his title against dangerous Russian puncher Matty Korobov last December, spoke to iFLtv to talk about the history making bout, which will be the first time that two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title – and in his eyes, there will be only one winner.

Sadly for the fighters involved, and Queensbury promotions – who look after Saunders – today’s presser was slightly overshadowed by (Matchroom Sport promoted) Carl Froch’s retirement announcement, which someone more cynical than myself, might have considered a deliberate move?

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