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Andy Lee to fight Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin on April 11?

WBO middleweight champion of the World Andy Lee is weighing up an offer to fight Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin and could fight in America and not Ireland this Spring.

Reports from Gerry Callan in The Star Newspaper on Tuesday suggest plans for a March 14 Dublin defence against Patrick Nelson where underway before an offer to fight former belt holder Quillin in Brooklyn on April 11 came in.

Indeed, Irish-boxing.com were lead to believe the Limerick fighter and his team are leaning toward the high profile American fight and will look for a homecoming bout defence against Billy Joe Saunders in Thomond Park in the Summer, provided the talented southpaw emerges unscathed.

Undefeated former champion Quillin certainly provides a much tougher test than Nelson, but he gave up the title last September rather than defend it against the man Lee subsequently beat for the vacant title, Russian southpaw Matt Korobov. By turning down the Korobov fight ‘Kid Chocolate’ also tore up a cheque worth $1.2 million.

Explaining the bizarre decision Quillin said:

“Winning the WBO world championship was a highlight in my career and something I’ll never forget. This is a difficult decision, but in order to make the fights the fans and I want against my fellow middleweights at the top of the division, I needed to relinquish the title.
“This is an exciting new chapter in my life, and I’m looking forward to cementing my spot as the best middleweight in the world.”

If the bout with 31 year old Quillin goes ahead Irish fight fans will be disappointed they won’t get the chance to see Lee’s first defence live, but they will take solace in the fact the Limerick puncher will be in another high profile bout that will hold big interest around the World.

Heading Stateside would also significantly boost Lee’s purse.

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