By Adam Beechers: Fresh from his 4th round TKO win on Friday night, WBO #1 fighter Billy Joe Saunders 22(12)-0 has stepped up the war of words ahead of his World title fight in September. Saunders, 25, is set to take on Andy Lee 34(24)-2 for the Irishman’s WBO World middleweight title. Saunders who beat France’s Yoann Bloyer was in a bullish mood as he looked to try and rattle his future opponent.
“Andy Lee is a good fighter but I’m going over there to smash him up and take his World title,” Saunders said to BoxNation. “If he said he’s going to knock me out in five rounds he’s talking crap and I can guarantee one thing a good smart boxer will always beat a brawler. I think Andy has got it in his mind too much about having that big punch but he won’t be getting lucky and landing it on me. Andy is a good fighter and a good champion who has done it the hard way and I have a lot of respect for him but believe me I am going to beat him.”
Saunders has been in with some good domestic level fighters such as Chris Eubank Jr, Gary O’Sullivan and current British champion Nick Blackwell but has never mixed with anyone at World level. It’s interesting to see the confidence flowing out of the man from Hertfordshire as his adversary has mixed with names like Julio Chavez Jr, Peter Quillin and Matt Korobov. Whilst there is no doubt Lee has fought a higher class of opponent, he lost to Chavez Jr, drew with Quillin and was behind on the scorecards before knocking Korobov out. Saunders was run close by Eubank Jr and simply outclassed everyone else he has fought perhaps other than John Ryder. He will need an excellent camp and ensure he has a game plan with his trainer Jimmy Tibbs as they look to outgun and outfox Lee and his coach Adam Booth.
“I’ll be back in the gym on Monday so no rest and then I’ll be going to the MGM gym in Marbella next week to begin serious, hard, training and that’s when the blood, sweat and tears begin.”
The fight is scheduled for 19th September at Limerick’s 25,00 seater Thomand Park Stadium.It’s being billed as the first legitimate World title fight between two fighters of traveling heritage and both fighters have come through different paths with different styles which makes for an intriguing clash this Autumn.
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