Things just have not been going to plan with Andy Lee's second title defense. Plans to fight Billy Joe Saunders at Thomand on Septemeber 19 were short-lived and there are strong rumours this morning that Lee-Saunders will now NOT be part of the World War 3 card in Manchester next month. Fight promoter Frank Warren posted a cryptic tweet this morning about the card and the Twitter rumour mill has been in overdrive since suggesting Lee-Saunders will not go forward.
A formal announcement regarding a change to the WW3 event in Manchester will be made later today by Frank Warren.
— Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) September 1, 2015
Lee tweeted a photo of himself after a training session yesterday so he clearly looks ready to go. From what you read on Twitter - which of course comes with its usual health warning - Saunders has been cut in training and cannot fight Lee in Manchester.
Saunders v Lee is OFF, fight to be added....#BowesKnows #WW2andabit
— Matt Bowes (@Mattbowes80) September 1, 2015
@boxmadUK cut to Saunders apparently
— Matt Bowes (@Mattbowes80) September 1, 2015
Adam Booth could not be reached for comment.
UPDATE - BoxingScene.com now reporting the fight is off.
AND NOW the fight has disappeared from BoxRec.
Andy Lee v Saunders has disappeared from BoxRec website for Oct 10..... #notgood #limerick pic.twitter.com/W58zuIR0nq
— Jerome O'Connell (@JeromeSport) September 1, 2015
LATEST: reports from the Midwest that the fight is off but Lee will remain on the card.
Official confirmation due at 2PM but Lee Vs Saunders is off. My info is Andy will still fight on the card in Manchester @LimerickToday
— Liam Aherne (@laherne95) September 1, 2015
The inevitable has been finally been confirmed by Warren, who spoke with PA this afternoon. He says we'll know for sure what Lee will be doing in the next 24 hours.
Billy Joe's got a cut eye," said Warren. "We're just waiting for the doctor to confirm when he'll be available. We're looking to put it on towards the end of November, December. [The cut came in] sparring.
"We're not sure what we're doing [with Lee]. I don't want to get into a situation where Andy's got to fight and there's an eight-week gap between the two and he's then not going to be available to fight Billy Joe so we're going to wait before tomorrow until making that decision.
"We've got two world titles on there, we've got a final eliminator for a world title on there, and one more fight at the moment. I'll have that done by the latest tomorrow, and we'll announce it."
