Frank Warren: ‘Andy Lee/Billy Joe Saunders WILL Happen Before Year’s End’

09/17/201509/17/2015 Olly Campbell

After a string of bad luck surrounding Andy Lee’s WBO 160 lb title defence against mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders – including two separate postponements – veteran British promoter Frank Warren has spoken out to insist that, all being well, the fight WILL happen before the end of this year.

Many theories abounded as to why the fight moved from the original September date and venue – Thomond Park in Limerick – although the official line is as a result of a virus suffered by the champion, meaning the fight was then set to top the bumper October 10 ‘World War 3’ card from Manchester, that also includes WBO lightweight champ, Terry Flanagan and Liverpool’s Liam Smith in separate world title bouts.

WW3: Andy Lee-Billy Joe Saunders Hit by Yet More Bad Luck / Billy Joe Cut in Sparring/ Off Until November

09/01/201509/01/2015 Olly Campbell

The fabled ‘luck of the Irish’ has hardly been with the Emerald Isle’s WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee – or for that matter, with veteran British promoter Frank Warren, ahead Lee’s much-anticipated clash with Hatfield’s mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders – that was due to take place in Manchester, England, on Oct 10th.

The fight has now had to be postponed AGAIN, after already moving back 3 weeks from Limerick, Ireland (Lee’s hometown) – ostensibly due to a ‘virus’ suffered by the champion – and following this second unfortunate drama – a cut sustained by Saunders in sparring -it looks like fans will be waiting until NOVEMBER to see them get it on.

Today’s drama had stemmed from the following tweet from Frank Warren;

Andy Lee: Venue Switch Can Potentially Change the Game / Fight “Closer” Than Before

08/24/201508/23/2015 Olly Campbell

After a venue switch from Thomond Park in his Limerick, Ireland hometown, to the Manchester Arena in England, WBO middleweight champion “Irish” Andy Lee has conceded that the dynamic of his October 10th fight with Hatfield’s Billy Joe Saunders has ostensibly shifted, now that it is the challenger, rather than Lee himself, who will be on “home” soil.

The “party line” is that the champion was suffering from a virus that caused the change of date and location for the contest, although poor ticket sales are still thought to have been a deciding factor – something that will no longer be a problem given the stacked “World War 3” triple-world title bill the fight now headlines.

Billy Joe Saunders Remaining Focused Ahead of World Title Challenge

08/20/201508/20/2015 Olly Campbell

Hatfield middleweight Billy Joe Saunders is remaining upbeat ahead of his world title challenge to WBO 160 lb champion Andy Lee on October 10th in Manchester, in the face of a venue switch that delayed the biggest fight of his career by three weeks.

Saunders, who boxed a tune up last month against Yoann Bloyer in London, headed out to the MGM facility in Marbella to get his head down away from the distractions that have presented themselves at earlier points in his career, though was called back after Andy Lee ostensibly “picked up a virus,” and the fight was switched from Thomond Park in Limerick, to topping a world title triple header in Manchester that will also feature Terry Flanagan and Liam Smith in respective world title bouts.

Andy Lee/Billy Joe Saunders Postponed Until October 10th / Moved to Manchester

08/13/201508/13/2015 Olly Campbell

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.

Saunders Training Well in Marbella Ahead of Andy Lee Title Challenge

08/10/201508/10/2015 Olly Campbell

After his recent stoppage (tune up) victory over Yoann Bloyer, Billy Joe Saunders landed in Marbella last Tuesday to the Macklin’s Gym facility in the Spanish city ahead of his September 19th challenge to WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee, that will take place at Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland.

Saunders and Lee’s fight will be the first time that two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title and the Hatfield based former Olympian is determined to be in the best shape possible.

Lee/Saunders Could Be Hagler/Hearns-esque Says Adam Booth

08/01/201507/25/2015 Olly Campbell

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.

‘I’ll Fight Any 160 In The World, But Take GGG Out Of It’ says Billy Joe Saunders

07/24/201507/23/2015 Olly Campbell

Britain’s former Olympian Billy Joe Saunders fights Andy Lee on September 19th for the WBO middleweight championship in Limerick, Ireland, in an historic fight that will see the first time two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title.

The ever honest Saunders is confident of dethroning his Irish rival in style and being crowned the new champion, yet in the event that happens, don’t expect him to sign for a unification with murderous punching Kazakh Gennady Golovkin – arguably the most avoided fighter in boxing today depending on who you believe.

Personal Pride At Stake For Andy Lee & Billy Joe Saunders

07/22/2015 Olly Campbell

September 19th sees a massive night for British & Irish boxing when WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee defends his title against mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland.

Today saw the London presser to promote the historic contest between the two southpaws – which is already developing into the classic boxer v puncher narrative – and will see two men of traveller origins contesting a version of the world title for the very first time.

Talking about what the fight means to him, unbeaten former Olympian Saunders, said;

Billy Joe Saunders: ‘You Can’t Get Careless Against Andy Lee’

07/16/201507/16/2015 Olly Campbell

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;