Lee & Saunders Promising Xmas Fireworks!

By Olly Campbell: It’s been a long time coming, yet after two separate postponements, WBO middleweight champion, Andy Lee (34-2-1, 24ko), finally defends his title against mandatory challenger, Billy Joe Saunders (22-0, 12ko) on Saturday night in Manchester, in a fight that will represent the first time two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title.

The history making, pre-Xmas dust-up from the city’s eponymously named arena, is being billed as a ’pick ’em’ by fans and experts alike, who are struggling to split the two southpaws ahead of the opening bell, with a familiar, yet respectful, boxer/puncher narrative having developed between the two men since the fight was signed.

Lee will make the seconds defence of the [vacant] belt he claimed a year ago with a come-from-behind knockout of dangerous Russian former amateur standout, Matt Korobov, holding onto the title back in April, after his first defence against an overweight Peter Quillin ended in a draw.

In that fight, the Adam Booth-trained Irishman tasted the canvas twice early on before decking Quillin right back, and has developed something of a reputation as a slow starter who is still only ever one punch away from ending matters, no matter how far behind he may fall.

After also being put down by big punching John Jackson 18 months ago, Lee again came from behind with a highlight-reel right hook on the ropes that turned out the lights of the Virgin Isles native, and there is a feeling that should he again fall behind against slick former Olympian, Saunders, on Saturday, then he may again find himself reliant on a ’big shot’ to try and end matters.

"I’m a very experienced fighter and it’s a 12 round fight. We’re not fighting 4 rounds, you don’t win a world title in 4 rounds," Lee told Boxnation. "Though I [do] have a punch that can end any fight and I know that. If I land correctly, that’s something my opponents have to be aware of, they need to be on tenterhooks the whole fight, and that burns a lot of people out.

"I’m feeling very dangerous," he added thoughtfully. "I’m itching to get in the ring, and it’s been a long time coming. I know I have paid the price in the gym & Adam is a very smart trainer, and I’m lucky to be in his hands.

"In the end [this fight] comes down to how good you are and I know he’s not good enough to beat me. This is my time now. I respect him, we’ll shake hands at the end, but when that first bell goes, it’s kill or be killed."

Mandatory challenger, Saunders, has completed a rigourous training camp out in Marbella, and has been relatively inactive since his Nov. ’14 victory over bitter rival, Chris Eubank Jr, boxing just the once against French journeyman, Yohann Bloyer. The Eubank fight was one in which the Hatfield man again displayed his tendency to start quick and fast, before then visibly fading as the contest wore on into the championship rounds. It is a trait the Jimmy Tibbs trained Saunders insists will not be evident this time as he moves into world class for the very first time, insisting he has had the training camp of his life, and feels that the stars will align for him to emerge as champion on the night.

"I’ve been living the life [in camp], I’m living like a fighter," he said of his preparations. "Back home [in England] there is a lot of distractions, though everything is perfect at the MGM, if you can’t do it out there, you can’t do it anywhere.

"It’s gonna be a tough fight, but a good fight and everything has gone to perfection [in training], and I know that Andy Lee can’t live with me on my best night. I’m out there to smash him and take his title."

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December 16, 2015