ANDY LEE INSISTS he is focused on his upcoming title fight with Billy Joe Saunders.
The WBO world middleweight champion was responding amid rumours that his team are already negotiating with IBF, IBO and WBA champ Gennady Golovkin.
After scheduled fights at Thomond Park (19 September) and the Manchester Arena (10 October) were both postponed, Limerick man Lee will finally defend his title against Saunders at the latter venue on 19 December.
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And, speaking at today’s press conference, he said it would be foolish to look beyond that bout.
“It would be stupid of me or Adam Booth to look past Saunders as he’s the next man I’m facing in the ring and he’s a dangerous fighter who could take my title,” said Lee.
“There’s no way at all I’d be overlooking him. Golovkin is the golden carrot for everyone in the middleweight division but I have to deal with Saunders first.”
Golovkin wants to unify all four major belts. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Saunders echoed Lee’s sentiments, before predicting that GGG will soon be looking to him for a title fight.
“I do hope that Lee is concentrating on this fight because I’m going all out to take his title,” said Saunders.
“He’s a clever man and I know he wouldn’t be looking past me, so I was surprised to hear that today.
“Golovkin is the main man in the division at the moment, but when I win the title then he’s going to be calling me out for the WBO belt if he wants to unify them.”
He added: “This is a real fight for the world title between me and Lee, this is the real thing. I guarantee there’s going to be someone going down at some point in the fight, but one’s things for sure I’m coming away with the belt.”
'It would be stupid to look past Saunders' - Lee denies deal already in place to fight GGG
ANDY LEE INSISTS he is focused on his upcoming title fight with Billy Joe Saunders.
The WBO world middleweight champion was responding amid rumours that his team are already negotiating with IBF, IBO and WBA champ Gennady Golovkin.
After scheduled fights at Thomond Park (19 September) and the Manchester Arena (10 October) were both postponed, Limerick man Lee will finally defend his title against Saunders at the latter venue on 19 December.
And, speaking at today’s press conference, he said it would be foolish to look beyond that bout.
“It would be stupid of me or Adam Booth to look past Saunders as he’s the next man I’m facing in the ring and he’s a dangerous fighter who could take my title,” said Lee.
“There’s no way at all I’d be overlooking him. Golovkin is the golden carrot for everyone in the middleweight division but I have to deal with Saunders first.”
Saunders echoed Lee’s sentiments, before predicting that GGG will soon be looking to him for a title fight.
“I do hope that Lee is concentrating on this fight because I’m going all out to take his title,” said Saunders.
“He’s a clever man and I know he wouldn’t be looking past me, so I was surprised to hear that today.
“Golovkin is the main man in the division at the moment, but when I win the title then he’s going to be calling me out for the WBO belt if he wants to unify them.”
He added: “This is a real fight for the world title between me and Lee, this is the real thing. I guarantee there’s going to be someone going down at some point in the fight, but one’s things for sure I’m coming away with the belt.”
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