WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee opens up after booking Billy Joe Saunders defence

WBO world middleweight champion Andy Lee is not one to engage in the 'hype' aspects of the boxing game and is already shunning the predictable taglines for his clash with Billy Joe Saunders.

The 31-year-old won the belt in December when he stopped Matt Korobov in six rounds in Las Vegas and went on to fight to an entertaining draw with Peter Quillin in April, although the bout was non-title on account of the American failing to make the weight.

That means that his first defence will be at Thomond Park in his native Limerick against the unbeaten Saunders on September 19. Like Lee, Saunders is from a traveller background and the 25-year-old has already championed the event as the first time two travellers will fight for a world title.

Unlike Saunders, who was particularly vocal in the lead-up to his victory over Chris Eubank Jr in November, Lee is more circumspect with his words and largely disinterested in the deluge of social media taunts between fighters, trainers and fans.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said of the trash talk phenomenon: "It's never been my style. You never know how it's going to go but stuff like that has to be natural. People love it, the hype and all, but it's not something I do.

"It has to be organic. Maybe it will be between us. There'll be a lot of pride there but the best man will win and when it's all over we'll shake hands.

"There are a lot of fighters that talk a lot - especially on social media now - and they're not even British champion. The way they talk, you'd swear they were climbing mountains.

"I'll just be myself. That's who I am. I don't look for publicity. When I'm fighting, that's when I do my business. People are starting to recognise me, though, since becoming world champion and joining with Adam Booth.

You just have to look at my record in the sport, my history at the Kronk Gym in Detroit and all the fights the last few years, because all that will speak louder than any bold statement I can make.

"You just have to look at my record in the sport, my history at the Kronk Gym in Detroit and all the fights the last few years, because all that will speak louder than any bold statement I can make.

"The thing that makes this fight special is it's in my hometown. It's going to be at Thomond Park and it's going to be a special night for Limerick and for Ireland.

"The fact that it's in Limerick makes it more about the fight and about me in terms of the event. There's a romance about that because I've fought all over the world, won a world title and am returning home to defend that world title for the first time.

"Had the fight been here in England, it would have been billed as 'Gypsy Kings' or 'Clash of the Gypsies' or something and I think that cheapens it. We're two very good boxers, world-rated. I'm number two and he's number nine in The Ring ratings. This is a significant fight.

"If he wants to approach it that way then that's up to him. It's true we're both from travelling backgrounds and maybe that adds an extra element to it but first and foremost this is for the middleweight championship of the world and there's no bigger accolade than that."

Lee has had an interesting career having been taken on by legendary trainer Manny Steward at the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit upon turning professional. He made his debut in the paid ranks in March 2006 and has built up a record of 34-2-1-KO24.

The late Steward said of Lee at the time: "I've never had a fighter I've rated higher than him."

Now trained by Adam Booth, Lee is still haunted by his two career defeats - to Brian Vera in March 2008 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June 2012 - and is keen to avenge them as well as offer another shot to Quillin, who knocked him down twice.

Lee said: "To become a world champion after two losses proves my determination. Those losses still leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Brian Vera I overlooked and he's a very tough man as you'll see this weekend. The Chavez Jr fight I lost in the ring but there are a lot of question marks about what happened outside of it.

"I've learned from those two defeats but as far as Chavez Jr is concerned, I'd love a rematch with him because I don't feel it was fought on a level playing field. Having lost and having come back has made me a better fighter.

"I'd like to fight Quillin again. I made a stupid mistake early in the first fight when I was looking to trade punches with him but I believe I have the beating of him. Had I boxed the first half like I boxed the second, I'd have won comprehensively. 

"I don't like a draw. I didn't know how to react. It was almost like a win because I came back from two knockdowns but had I not boxed that way in earlier rounds, I feel I'd have won the fight and I would like to make that right."

Tune in to next week's podcast for more from Andy Lee...