By Kevin Murphy
Ireland’s WBO Champion Andy Lee could defend his crown in front of his own partisan supporters at Thomond Park in Limerick.
The eagerly awaited clash with unbeaten mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders was due to take place in London later in the year.
Andy Lee presented his World Title belt to a rapturous crowd at Thomond Park in December.
However, the Irish Independent reports this morning that the fight will now take place in a spectacular open air event at the home of Munster Rugby on September 19.
Legendary promoter Frank Warren is the man charged with bringing Lee’s first title defence to home soil and it would be regarded as a massive boost for the City of Limerick.
Lee who is a former Irish Olympian served his time under one of professional boxing’s greatest ever coaches Manny Stewart in Detroit.
The Limerick man claimed the over highly regarded Russian Matt Korobov in December at Las Vegas.
His first defence against Peter Quillin in April which ended in a draw was downgraded as Quillin failed to make the weight. Lee was on canvas twice that night but fought back in tremendous style.
The upcoming Lee fight will bring back happy memories for boxing fans of the Steve Collins/ Chris Eubank fights which took place in Millstreet and Páirc Ui Chaoimh back in 1995.