Andy Lee’s world middleweight title defence against Billy Joe Saunders has been postponed again but there is no chance of the rearranged fight being staged in Ireland, according to promoter Frank Warren.

Andy Lee admits the cancellation of his dream homecoming world title defence has boosted Billy Joe Saunders’ chance of victory, after the fight was rearranged to take place in Manchester.

“It was very disappointing because a fight in Limerick would have been a dream come true but it wasn’t to be."

Following the shock decision to cancel the Andy Lee-Billy Joe Saunders fight at Thomond Park, a former mayor of Limerick speculated yesterday that ‘the Hand of God’ could have played a part, as it did for footballer Diego Maradona in 1986.

Promoter Frank Warren claims he is open to the possibility of a rematch between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders taking place in Limerick next year after their world-title bout, originally fixed for Thomond Park next month, was last night postponed for an October date in Manchester.

It wasn’t until that last fight in Brooklyn that Andy Lee realised just how true some words of that neighbourhood’s most famous and notorious son really were.

World and Olympic champions Andy Lee and Katie Taylor will be reunited next month.

Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan is hoping to fly the Cork flag high above Thomond Park on September 19 and secure a world title shot against the winner of the main event in the process.

Katie Taylor managed to pull her punches but still land a knockout blow to middleweight WBO title challenger Billy Joe Saunders’ below-the-belt sexist attack on women’s boxing.

Katie Taylor has responded to the views of Billy Joe Saunders who said women should not be boxing, but "are there for sex" instead.

Andy Lee has warned Billy Joe Saunders that he is still yet to produce his best in the ring and suggested that he may look for a first round knockout in their world title fight.

Katie Taylor could appear on the undercard of The Showdown between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders at Thomond Park with discussions about her involvement still ongoing.

This ain’t McGregor-Mendes or McGregor-Aldo. At least outside the ring.

The red cauldron of Munster Rugby simmered politely yesterday as boxing big hitters Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders squared up to each other at Thomond Park for the announcement of their world title fight there on September 19.

Follow all the news from the announcement of the Andy Lee versus Billy Joe Saunders bout live from Thomond Park, Limerick.