Andy Lee: Saunders Fights With Tenacity & Passion, I Will Have To Beat It Out Of Him

07/15/201507/14/2015 Olly Campbell

“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?

Andy Lee – Saunders Presser Live Stream / Ticket Infos

07/14/201507/14/2015 BoxNation

A press conference will be held at Thomond Park on Tuesday 14th July at 12.30 to officially announce details of the long-awaited and highly-anticipated showdown between Andy Lee & Billy Joe Saunders for this unique outdoor global boxing event.

Irish hero Lee, the reigning WBO World Middleweight Champion, and Saunders, the undefeated WBO number one ranked and mandatory title challenger from England, will meet face-to-face at the press conference

Tickets are now on sale for the massive middleweight showdown between WBO World Champion Andy Lee and undefeated challenger Billy Joe Saunders.

Saunders AND Eubank Jr – Summer Rematch Imminent?

05/01/201504/30/2015 Olly Campbell

The news that dropped earlier that both WBO 160lb mandatory Billy Joe Saunders (21-0, 11ko) and bitter rival, WBA interim champ Chris Eubank Jr (19-1, 14ko) are OFF Frank Warren’s May 9th Wembley show, hasn’t actually come as too much of a surprise to me.

Before today’s news, in the fights they were meant to be in, neither man was really going to set that card alight anyway. Billy Joe, returning from injury still hadn’t a named opponent and Eubank was meant to be making a very routine defence of his own title against unheralded Australian veteran Les Sherrington.

Billy Joe Saunders – A Great Year Ahead

04/16/2015 Olly Campbell

There is more good news for Britain’s undefeated middleweight Billy Joe Saunders (21-0,11ko) this morning as he has been named the EBU fighter of the year. In a joint accolade his fight with Chris Eubank Jr last November (19-1,14ko) has also been named EBU fight of the year.

It’s a deserving award for the British, Commonwealth and European 160lb fighter ahead of his blockbuster world title challenge later this year against “Irish” Andy Lee, who we saw last weekend in a good fight with Peter Quillin which ended in a hard fought draw.

Frank Warren Talks Andy Lee vs Billy Joe Saunders

04/13/201504/13/2015 Olly Campbell

Veteran British promoter Frank Warren has today spoken to iFL tv’s Kugan Cassius in the aftermath of Saturday’s draw between Andy Lee and Peter Quillin regarding his fighter, former Olympian and undefeated current British, European and Commonwealth middleweight champion, Hatfield’s Billy Joe Saunders. (21-0, 11ko)

WBO 160lb mandatory challenger Saunders was always due to face the winner of Lee-Quillin yet after the somewhat unique situation of the belt staying with Lee (W or L) as soon as Quillin failed to make weight, the fans knew before the fight that win or lose Andy Lee vs Saunders would be a world title fight in Britain or Ireland at some stage in the summer. The fact that the entertaining fight between Lee and Quillin ended up a draw became something of a moot point.

Saunders And Eubank Jnr. Joint Headline Title Packed Show At SSE Wembley

04/02/201504/02/2015 Queensberry Promotions

British rivals feature in separate fights that could lead to huge Autumn rematch

British boxing’s biggest rivals Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jnr. will joint-headline a massive fight card in separate fights at the SSE Wembley Arena on Saturday 9th May as they close in on a potential Autumn blockbuster rematch.

Undefeated Hatfield ace Saunders will feature in an International Middleweight Contest against an opponent to be announced, whilst Eubank Jnr. makes the first defence of his WBA Interim World title against tough Australian Les Sherrington.

Saunders accepts 6-figure sum to step aside

02/07/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Billy Joe Saunders has accepted a 6-figure sum to relinquish his WBO World title shot to allow Andy Lee to face Peter Quillin in April.

In doing so the Hatfield middleweight secured a slot on the on the undercard of what promises to be a huge New York show against a yet to be named opponent.

This is the second time Saunders 21-0 (11KO’s) has stepped aside, having allowed Matt Korobov 24-1 (14KO’s) to face Andy Lee 34-2 (24KO’s) in December. Instead facing Chris Eubank Jnr 18-1 (13KO’s) in a lucrative rematch that he won on a split decision.

Saunders: “It was a hard, gruelling fight”

11/30/201411/30/2014 Queensberry Promotions

In a close and thrilling chief support, Billy Joe Saunders handed bitter rival Chris Eubank Jnr. his first career defeat with a split decision to retain his British, Commonwealth and European Middleweight titles.

The Hatfield star also made the Lonsdale belt his to keep with the third and most satisfying defence of the title, plus it was a final eliminator for the WBO World Middleweight title.

Saunders started well in the early rounds with Eubank Jnr. struggling to cope with his quick feet and accurate jab, but Eubank did have some success with some strong uppercuts.

Billy Joe Saunders wins tough split decision win over Chris Eubank Junior

11/30/201411/29/2014 James Slater

Tonight in London, in one of the most heavily hyped and intriguing British middleweight clashes of recent years, Billy Joe Saunders ultimately proved too tough, too skilful and too experienced for a game and always dangerous Chris Eubank Junior.

At the end of 12 hard rounds, southpaw Saunders retained his unbeaten record and his European, British and Commonwealth titles. The scores were 115-114 for Saunders, 116-113 for Eubank and 115-113 for Saunders.

Thanks mostly to his famous father, there was plenty expected of Eubank Jr in the lead-up to this fight. “He beats [Gennady] Golovkin now,” Senior stated of his son. And, “He will be better than Floyd Mayweather Junior.” Such talk now looks foolish, if it didn’t before Saunders took away Junior’s unbeaten pro ledger. Still, Eubank Jr did display real grit, determination and a good chin. Sadly for those fans who hoped the young Eubank would achieve the great heights his father did, tonight’s challenger also displayed certain moves to rival those of a rank amateur, as well as a game-plan that saw him all but give away the early rounds.

The Art of Delusion

11/19/201411/18/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Delusional, that’s a word you’ll have heard regularly within the world of boxing in the modern era and one you will hear more and more as we approach a series of grudge matches that has lit a fire beneath British boxing that is likely to see the levels of bluster reach fever pitch. It’s a word that has always interested me, simply because despite its negative connotations it is such a crucial weapon in the armory of a professional fighter.

The manifestations of such behavior is of course dictated by an individuals personality, but believe me, to a man, every boxer, journeyman aside, have convinced themselves completely that they have the beating of their opponent. To me, the only difference between these assertions being considered delusion rather than belief is the manner in which you choose to state it. In an era when self-promotion is as important to a fighters earning potential as skill, delusion has become somewhat of an art form and three of its chief exponents will benefit in the coming weeks.