Andy Lee hails biggest fight ever in Ireland

Andy Lee has hailed Ryan Burnett’s upcoming world-title unification Belfast bout as the “biggest fight to ever happen in Ireland”.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn yesterday revealed that Burnett’s first defence of his IBF world bantamweight crown on October 21 will also be a world-title unification contest against WBA belt holder Zhanat Zhakiyanov of Kazakhstan.

The bout, which will take place in the Belfast native’s hometown at the SSE Odyssey Arena, is also the first unification fight ever to take place on Irish soil, north or south, as the two rival title holders clash in an effort to determine who may be the best 118lb fighter in the world.