IF he wasn’t already public enemy number 1 in Ireland he certainly is now. Although as he challenges Andy Lee for the WBO middleweight title on September 17 he was never going to win Irish support, Billy Joe Saunders won respect when he came to Limerick to officially announce the fight last week.

The mandatory challenger was full if respect in Thomond and avoided any desires to play panto villain. Not long after the London equivalent this week however the English man came out with some very sexist comments and made them when asked about Ireland’s leading lady Katie Taylor.

The issue of possibly Ireland’s greatest ever athlete appearing on the under card of the mouth watering contest was raised at the top table of what was a cordial press conference and didn’t seem to well received by Frank Warren. However in an interview post fight Saunders enraged people around the world and particularly in Ireland when ask his opinion on the Olympic Champion possibly appearing on the card.

The former British and European title holder said he believed women where for sex and cleaning suggesting the female fight game isn’t his thing.

“I think women are there for sex. Every night. Hard sex. Women’s there for cleaning, cooking, washing and sex. They’re not to put a headguard on and get punched in the face, although, I must say, Katie Taylor’s done extremely well and she once punched Frankie Gavin up in sparring.”