By Edward Chaykovsky
The World Boxing Organization has given WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee until January 12th to reach an agreement to face his mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders. If no deal is reached by that date, then the sanctioning body will order a mandatory purse bid. If it goes to a purse bid, the minimum bid will be $200,000 and there will be a 75-25 split in favor of the champion.
Promoter Frank Warren, who handles Saunders, had already stated several days ago that the wheels were already turning for a March battle between Lee (34-2, 24KOs) and Saunders (21-0, 11KOs).
Lee captured the title earlier this month with an explosive stoppage of previously undefeated Matt Korobov and Saunders won a decision over previously unbeaten Chris Eubank Jr. to get the mandatory shot.
The biggest issue to work out is the location and venue. Warren will stage the fight wherever it makes sense to make the most money. He feels London is a great location and obviously Lee will look to defend at home in Ireland.
“It’s all about us sitting down and the fight going where it makes the most money – that’s the bottom line,” said Warren to The Limerick Leader. “Adam Booth and I had an agreement and obviously that will be honoured. We’ll get together and go through it and see where we’re going with it. I’m looking forward to getting it on. It’s a good fight for the Irish and the Brits."
“I’m sure he (Lee) will want to do it in Ireland but that’s something that will need to be sorted out between the two camps. But wherever it makes sense to do it, wherever they can generate the most income is where it will take place. Ireland is a viable situation as is London. Billy Joe sold out the ExCeL (London). It was rammed out. I think it would make more sense to do it in the UK but it’s all about sitting down and working it out between us.”
