The WBO have ordered Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders to enter into negotiations over the Limerick man's mandatory title defence. There had been suggestions from both camps that each would take another fight before potentially meeting each other but those plans must now be shelved with a bout being earmarked for March.
In a letter sent to Adam Booth, Lee's manager and trainer, and Frank Warren, Saunders' promoter, the WBO stated:
Please be advised that the parties have thirty days to negotiate an agreement for the WBO Middleweight Championship bout between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders. If an accord is not reached before January 12, 2015, a Purse Bid will be ordered.
The move is somewhat unusual but not unheard of in boxing circles. The Purse Bid will be set a minimum of £200,000 with Lee receiving 75 % and Saunders 25%. The idea of the Purse Bid is that if an agreement is not reached, both parties make a bid for the size of the purse with the winning bidder being in control of where the fight takes place.
Potentially this could be bad news for Lee's hopes of a homecoming title defence. However, with both parties thought to be keen to make the fight happen regardless of this news, the possibility of a Lee-Saunders bout in Thomond Park in March certainly hasn't been dented too badly.
