Saunders and Lee fight to be new gipsy king

TRUE to the gipsy tradition of settling disputes by fisticuffs, Andy Lee will meet the challenge from Billy Joe Saunders man-to-man on this last Saturday night before Christmas. Unlike Irish folk legend Bartley Gorman — who fought down mineshafts, in quarries, at horse fairs and on the cobbles as he reigned over illegal bare-knuckle boxing for 20 years — this first official world-title fight between two members of the travelling community will be held in a ring in Manchester. Lee, Ireland’s WBO world middleweight champion, and Saunders, the undefeated contender from Hatfield, have made much of their community ties but are setting aside all that as they gird for battle. Lee warns Saunders to ‘expect to feel my nasty streak’, while Saunders insists he is ‘willing to trade blow-for-blow.’ Lee is an explosive knockout puncher while Saunders honed his slicker skills as an Olympian amateur and unbeaten professional. You pay your money — either at the Manchester Arena or on BoxNation TV — and you takes your preference. Either a stoppage by Lee, or Saunders (below) on points. In his last two fights — first when winning his title, then in defending it — Lee’s big punch dug him out of deep holes in America. Against Matt Korobov he was miles behind on the scorecards when he landed his howitzer in the sixth round to win the vacant title. Then he was on the canvas twice against Peter Quillin before his seventh-round knockdown had an even more debilitating effect on his opponent and he fought back for a draw. His only two defeats have been inflicted by high-class boxers, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr and Bryan Vera. Saunders, meanwhile, has successfully come through a war against Chris Eubank Jnr to remain unbeaten and establish himself as Lee’s mandatory challenger. Lee has the punch but more limited ability. Saunders has the talent but there have been doubts about his commitment to the sport. Yet Lee vows not only to knock out the challenger but outbox him, too. Saunders says that although he can outclass the champion he will go toe-to-toe. As Tyson Fury has so vividly demonstrated, boxing travellers are nothing if not contrary. This pair are buoyed by Fury’s success in becoming their community’s first world heavyweight champion. Saunders even advised Fury to put controversy behind him by renouncing his UK passport and reverting to citizenship of Ireland, ‘where he will be appreciated.’ Whoever wins will seek a title unification fight against American WBA champion Daniel Jacobs, or perhaps even Kazakhstan’s Gennady Golovkin, the world’s dominant middleweight. So who will it be? History says boxers cannot keep on forever landing one big punch to snatch victory from a losing position. So I take Saunders to edge the decision — but Lee could prove me wrong in one

split-second. Tonight, 8.30pm, live on BoxNation.