Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders fighting for pride, history and their community

ANDY LEE and Billy Joe Saunders met at a press conference in London today, after last weekโ€™s media event (which you can watch HERE) at Thomond Park, the stadium which will host their September 19 WBO middleweight title fight.

The press conference was a study in intense respect. Neither man bad-mouthed the other but the importance of this fight for both challenger and champion was left abundantly clear.

Andy Lee became the first boxer from the Traveller community to win a world title. This next bout will be the first world title fight to be contested by two Travellers. โ€œThereโ€™s a lot of talk about the fight in our community,โ€ said Billy Joe. โ€œWeโ€™re both proud, proud menโ€ฆ Weโ€™re making history with this fight.

โ€œI think about it all the time. I canโ€™t believe Iโ€™m here now. Iโ€™m touching distance from my dream.โ€

The result, whatever it is, will haunt them both. โ€œWe wonโ€™t be shamed,โ€ Lee said firmly, โ€œbut the loser will be known as the loser.

โ€œWeโ€™re both pure boxers in a sense. What we will put on is a display of boxing skill, speed and power.โ€

Katie Taylor could make an appearance on the undercard at Thomond Park READ MORE HERE

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