Billy Joe Saunders wins WBO middleweight title after beating Andy Lee in Manchester

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS became Britain’s 12th reigning world champion as he edged out Andy Lee in a tight clash to claim the WBO middleweight title.

 

Billy Joe Saunders won on points against Andy Lee to become WBO middleweight world champion

 

The Hatfield-based fighter had Lee down twice in the third round, but had to come through a tactical battle to dethrone the Irishman.

Saunders, 26, was given the decision on two of the judges’ scorecards at 115-111 and 114-112 while the third gave it a draw.

This bout – the first world title fight between two Travellers - had been a long time in the making with the previous two dates postponed due to illness to Lee and then a cut suffered in sparring by Saunders.

 

But finally on the weekend before Christmas it happened – yet it was not the cracker many expected it would be.

It was instead a largely tactical chess match of a fight with the exception of the blistering third round.

Saunders was on the front foot from the off, but both men were cagey in the opening two rounds.

The challenger probably shaded the brief exchanges, but there was no doubting who got the better of the third.

Saunders swung wildly with a big left and missed, but caught Lee with a right as he came around and the champion was down.

 

Saunders celebrates with his team after getting the decision on two of the judges' scorecards

 

The former British Olympian then pounced and landed another two rights that sent a dazzled Lee to the canvas again.

The Irishman had to hang on to see out the round but recovered in the fourth as the pace slowed again.

Saunders landed a stunning left in the fifth that hurt Lee, but then the former British, Commonwealth and European champion appeared to go into his shell for a few rounds.

It allowed Lee back into the fight and meant it would be a nervy finish.

Saunders seemed to rally in the tenth, but it was Lee who finished the strongest as he made a last-ditch attempt to hold on to his title.

But it was not enough as he fell to the third defeat of his 37-fight career while Saunders remains unbeaten and joins an elite club of world champions from these shores.