After two postponements, Ireland’s Andy Lee will finally defend his WBO middleweight title for the first time on December 19th at the Manchester Arena. In a battle of the southpaws, Lee faces mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders at the 21,000-seater venue.

Undefeated Saunders is chomping at the bit to finally get it on with his Limerick rival. The slick southpaw has been even more patient for his shot at the title after he stepped aside to allow Lee to fight Korobov for the belt, as well as stepping aside for Lee’s ill-fated defence with Peter Quillin that was demoted to a non-title fight following the American’s failure to make weight.

At the press conference to announce the Christmas cracker, an excited Saunders explained that “Like Lee, I just want to get in the ring and fight. We’ve talked and talked for months, now we just want to fight.”

“I gave him the chance to fight for the World title against Korobov when I stepped aside so now I want my chance.”

“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s here now and nobody is going to stop me.”

“This isn’t going to be a Merry Christmas for him, more like the Nightmare Before Christmas. We’re both fighting men and one of us isn’t going to be standing at the end, and that won’t be me.”

Lee v Saunders will be shown exclusively live on Boxnation TV (Sky channel 437) and tickets for the Manchester mega-fight are on sale now.