What next for fallen champion Andy Lee?

Andy Lee’s display following his world-title loss to Billy Joe Saunders saw the deposed Limerick champion maintain the same battling heart he had shown in the ring a short while earlier.

In the bowels of the Manchester Arena, England’s new WBO world middleweight champion Saunders was holding court after a majority points win during which he had twice dropped the former champion to the canvas with big right hands in the third round.

Lee entered the post-fight press conference some 15 minutes in, and while the former champion only remained present for a couple of minutes he was gracious in defeat, complimenting his 26-year-old opponent on his win while he attempted to repress his obvious disappointment as the 31-year-old’s voice crackled with emotion.