Warren says Lee versus Quillin is a done deal and will go ahead in April

FRANK Warren claims Andy Lee will make the first defence of his WBO middleweight World title against Peter Quillin in April.

The Limerick favourite’s first defence has been subject to speculation since he beat Matt Korobov to claim the title on December 13.

A Dublin March 17 defence against Patrick Nielsen was first touted, before news of a one million dollar deal to fight Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin in April broke.

Promoter of Lee’s mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders wasn’t keen on Lee fighting Quillin and it seemed as if he was going to push to evoke Saunder’s mandatory status and prevent a voluntary defence.

However, in his column this week he claimed Lee will fight Quillin with European champ Saunders set to face the winner. Warren, who promotes Dublin World title hopeful Stephen Ormond, also expressed a desire for Lee to win, as he wants to do a Stadium fight with the former Irish Olympian and the Londoner in the Summer.

“There has been a twist to the tale of Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO world middleweight title fight against the new champion from Ireland, Andy Lee, who will now make a voluntary defence against undefeated American Peter Quillin in New York in April. Billy Joe may appear on the undercard,” Warren said in his column,

“Saunders will then meet the winner, which we hope will be Lee. The reason why we have not made an immediate match with Lee is because we feel this fight is big enough for a London football stadium but none will be available until the end of the season.”