ANDY LEE WILL fight for his first world title defence to take place on home soil in Thomond Park.
Fresh from his remarkable comeback to draw with Peter Quillin in New York last weekend, Lee is setting his sights on mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders.
The two are expected to meet in a summer showdown for Lee’s WBO middleweight title.
England’s Saunders is pushing for the fight to be held in Upton Park, home of Premier League side West Ham, which can hold in excess of 30,000 fans and would be more lucrative for both fighters.
But Lee says he has earned the right to defend his belt in front of a home crowd.
“I’d love it to happen [in Limerick],” Lee told Second Captains on RTÉ. “There’s a lot involved in the organising and the logistics.
“Billy Joe Saunders is my mandatory and he has a powerful promoter, Frank Warren. They’re eager for the fight to be in Upton Park, East London.
Me and my side are eager to have it in Thomond Park.
“There will be some negotiations and who knows which way it will turn out. In an ideal world, Thomond Park.
“I think I’ve earned that and I’ve served my time. I’ve fought all over. To fight at home in Thomond would be a dream come true.”
