Andy Lee’s first world title defence will be moved out of Thomond Park and postponed until October.
The Irish Sun repored this evening that Lee’s WBO middleweight title showdown with Billy Joe Saunders will be postponed and moved away from his native city, and this news has just been confirmed by Frank Warren on Newstalk.
Frank Warren on #offtheball right now confirming that the Andy Lee fight is being moved to Manchester on October 10th.
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) August 12, 2015
In what will be a huge blow to Lee and to Irish boxing in general, the Sun suggests that the fight will now be switched to the UK in October.
Wow... Andy Lee fight moved from Thomson Park to Manchester. Very disappointing for him.
— Dan O'Neill (@dan_the_gun) August 12, 2015
However, a spokesperson for Lee’s camp has told Off the Ball this evening that it’s “business as usual” as far as they’re concerned and that the 31-year-old had trained today as part of his preparations.
Frank Warren on the line now to confirm that Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders will be moved from Thomand
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) August 12, 2015
Lee is helping to co-promote next month’s fight along with his trainer and manager Adam Booth and Saunders’ promoter Frank Warren.