Billy Joe Saunders: Don’t be fooled by my pleasant demeanour

Billy Joe Saunders believes the placid build-up to his bout against Andy Lee tonight will work in his favour.

The former British, European and Commonwealth champion puts his undefeated (22-0) record on the line in the Manchester Arena as he challenges for Lee’s WBO world middleweight title (live on BoxNation, 10.15pm approx).

Saunders has previously been involved in fiery promotional campaigns, with his win over Chris Eubank Jr last year preceded by months of trash talk between the pair.

There has been a healthy level of mutual respect between southpaws Lee and Saunders, however, throughout the six-month build-up to their bout.

“It saves you energy,” said Saunders. “When you’ve got to sit next to a prick like Eubank and chat shit, because that’s all they do is chat shit, you can’t treat them seriously.

“Andy Lee is fighting and he knows his boxing. He’s world champion and you can respect a man like that, because he gives it back,” added the challenger, who insisted his pleasant demeanour this week should not be mistaken for a lack of intensity.

Lee this week claimed that he goes through a transformation from genial nice guy to cold-blooded fighter in the moments after he leaves his dressing-room for a fight, but 26-year-old Saunders claims he is already in fight mode.

“How I talk and treat people, don’t let that fool you with what’s going on in my mind. I’m switched off now, I don’t get switched on an hour before the fight,” said the Hatfield native. “I know exactly what I’ve got to do down to a tee and that I will do on Saturday night. When the bell goes, that’s when I put all the stuff together that I’ve worked on,” said the former Olympian, who has prepared for the bout under his long-time trainer Jimmy Tibbs at Macklin’s Gym Marbella, the Spanish training base of Lee’s domestic rival Matthew Macklin.

While the 26-year-old claimed he is in the best shape of his life, he was reluctant to agree with the common theory that he will look to out-work Lee and earn a points win.

“If you want to earn yourself a few quid, back me and I’ll have you a good Christmas. That’s all I’m going to let anybody know until that bell goes. I’m not being cocky, I’m not being arrogant, I’m confident and I know what I’ve got to do,” said Saunders.

Lee v Saunders is live on BoxNation. Go to www.boxnation.com to subscribe.