Unbeaten British middleweight contender Billy Joe Saunders, has told his fans to ‘feel free’ to bet on him beating WBO champion Andy Lee on Dec. 19 in Manchester, saying he doesn’t feel the Irishman ‘can win this fight at all.’
Mandatory challenger Saunders, finally gets his world title opportunity after two previous postponements delayed the fight considerably, and the former Olympian is brimming with confidence, telling fans they can attempt to cash in on him emerging victorious in much the same way as he bet on fellow gypsy, Tyson Fury, beating Wladimir Klitschko recently – picking up a cool £20k!
“I don’t think Andy Lee can win this fight at all, in my own head and my own heart,” Saunders said to dailystar.co.uk. “People can feel free to put £100,000 on me if they want, because I know plenty of people in my community who have put a hell of a lot of money on me.”
The Lee/Saunders fight represents the first time that two men over traveller origins have contested a version of the world title, and as the rival fan factions are set to descend on Manchester in under a fortnight and the date moves closer, Saunders feels a growing sense of destiny.
“At the minute Andy Lee is the gatekeeper to the next field and it’s there for me to walk through into it,” he said. “I genuinely believe I am going to become world champion this year.”
Lee/Saunders will be screened by Boxnation in the UK and on Showtime (US)
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