Lee vs. Saunders

By Scott Gilfoid: Andy Lee (34-3-1, 24 KOs) showed a lot of heart in coming back from two knockdowns in the 3rd round to almost rally to get a victory over challenger Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) last Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK.

Lee lost his WBO middleweight title in the process of getting beaten by a 12 round majority decision. However, Lee feels he finished stronger than Saunders, and he’d very much like a rematch to avenge his loss and recapture his WBO strap.

Saunders spoke of possibly giving Lee a rematch in London if it makes good business sense. There are not a lot of good money options for Saunders unfortunately, given that he’s not interested in facing IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin in a unification fight.

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By Scott Gilfoid: After winning the WBO middleweight title last night in Manchester, UK, Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) says that he wants to fight the best in the 160lb division starting with either WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Miguel Cotto. Saunders beats Andy Lee (34-3-1, 24 KOs) by a disputed 12 round majority decision at the Manchester Arena in England.

Thus far, Canelo and Cotto have not spoken up about whether they would be interested in fighting the 26-year-old Saunders. Canelo has a voluntary defense of his WBC title coming up on May 7th, so it’s possible that he might show some interest in taking the fight if it makes sense financially.

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By John Spandley: I am currently flying Co pilot down the M6 as I am writing this article after witnessing the undefeated Billie Joe Saunders snatch the WBO Middleweight Championship of the world from Irish Andy Lee in a truly epic encounter.

The atmosphere in the arena was a friendly affair with all parties truly wishing for the best man to win on the night.

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By Scott Gilfoid: In what has to be seen as a controversial decision, Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) beat WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-3-1, 24 KOs) by a 12 round majority decision tonight in a fight where Lee was knocked down twice at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.

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By Jim Dower: In a close fight, #1 WBO Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) defeated WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-3-1, 24 KOs) by a 12 round majority decision on Saturday night to win the WBO 160lb title at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK. The judges scored the fight 114-112 and 115-111 for Saunders, and 113-113 even.

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(Credit: Frank Warren) By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten challenger Billy Joe Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs) says he’s seen the past fights of WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs), when he was at his absolute best, and none of those fights have him worried at all about what he’s going to be facing on Saturday night. Saunders and Lee face each other this Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK.

Saunders, 26, says he’s at his physical best for this fight and is at his best weight. Saunders looked a little drained to me though, and I’m just wondering if he’s going to be a little sluggish on Saturday night after he rehydrates for the fight.

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By Daniel Hughes: This Saturday, on the 19th of December in Manchester, England, boxing fans will at last see Andy Lee face Billy Joe Saunders for the WBO middleweight title. Style wise, both fellow southpaw fighters also with similar backgrounds. It is the third time scheduled, twice postponed and a factor in removing the casual boxing fans interest.

The venue and country of the fight has been moved, and both men are from a traveling background. Both personable men, will no doubt see the irony in that fact. Both fighters are used to the versatility life brings and being true fighting men it will not bother either in the slightest.

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(Photo credit: Frank Warren) By Scott Gilfoid: WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs) and his opponent Billy Joe Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs) both successfully weighed in on Friday for their big fight on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK. The 6’2” Lee looked good and not weight drained in coming in at 159.75 pounds.

This is how Lee looks when he steps foot inside the ring, and that tells you he did not have to drain down in weight a dramatic amount of weight like we see with some fighters like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. I wish I could say the same thing for the 26-year-old Saunders. He looked badly drained in coming in right at the limit at 160lbs.

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