Lee: This is going to be a big event and a serious fight

IRISH fight fans are in for a ‘serious fight’ and a ‘big event’ come September 19 says Andy Lee.

The WBO middleweight champion re confirmed he will defend his title against mandatory challenge Billy Joe Saunders in Thomond Park in the Autumn and is excited about bringing big time boxing to his home town of Limerick.

The former Kronk fighter also predicted his defence against England’s Saunders will be a world class clash.

“My coach Adam Booth has been working with Frank Warren and the father of Billy Joe Saunders to arrange this fight,” Lee told 2FM.

“It will be the first outdoor fight in Ireland since Muhammad Ali fought Al ‘Blue’ Lewis at Croke Park in 1972. It’s great for me, it’s great for Limerick and it will be great for Ireland.

“It’s a serious fight, on paper it’s a 50-50 fight. This is a big event. I don’t want a mis-match of a fight. This will be a world class fight.”