Billy Joe Saunders ended  Andy Lee’s reign as WBO middleweight ring king in Manchester on Saturday night.

Limerick’s Lee lost a majority decision to the English puncher and lost the belt he won by stopping Matt Korobov 12 months previous.

Key to the defeat where two knock downs in round three as Saunders, by no means a noted puncher twice put down the Irish fighter, whose punch resistance has never been called into question.

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Lee, who as per usual started somewhat slow, did work his way back into the fight, but eventually lost 113-113, 114-112, 115-111.