Andy Lee vs. Peter Quillin Agreement is Reached

By Rick Reeno & Steve Kim

BoxingScene.com has confirmed that a deal has been reached for a fight between WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-2, 24KOs) and the man who vacated the crown, Peter Quillin (31-0, 22KOs).

Promoter Lou DiBella had to overcome a major obstacle to get the deal done - a mandatory defense owed to Billy Joe Saunders. DiBella was able to work out a step-aside agreement with Saunders and his promoter Frank Warren. Saunders will be in line to face the Lee-Quillin winner.

"I think it's a great fight in the ring and I'm excited it's going to be for the title and I'm happy I was able to work it out with Frank Warren and Saunders. We're just waiting for a sanctioning letter from the WBO. Information will be forthcoming on the date and the venue. I want to thank Frank and Billy for allowing us to do the fight. I really worked my f***ing ass off to get this deal done," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.

The fight is likely going to take place on April 11th, as part of Al Haymon's 'Premier Boxing Champions' broadcast on NBC. The card will be headlined by a junior welterweight fight between Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson, who collide at a catch-weight of 143-pounds. The frontrunner to host the NBC doubleheader is the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York - and there are ongoing discussions with the venue.

Quillin held the belt and made three successful defenses. He was then ordered to face Matt Korobov in a mandatory fight. He vacated the title, also missing out on $1.4 million dollar payday, after Roc Nation Sports won the WBO's purse bid. Most in the industry believe Quillin walked away from the fight due to the business rivalry between his manager, Al Haymon, and Roc Nation. Quillin has always disputed those rumors, stating that he vacated his belt in order to devote himself to his pregnant wife.

Lee and Korobov were then ordered to fight for the vacant WBO crown. In a close fight, Lee pulled away with a dramatic sixth round stoppage of the undefeated Korobov to capture the belt last December in Las Vegas.