Irish champion Andy Lee will defend his WBO middleweight title against Peter Quillin, a Chicago born boxer of Cuban decent and unbeaten in 31 professional bouts with 22 knockouts. The fight is expected to take place in in New York.

Quillin is trained by Fredie Roach and is signed to Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, the same promotional company as Ireland's Jason Quigley.

The fight against Quillin can take place as Lee has been released from his mandatory bout against England's Billy Joe Saunders, who was the first in line to challenge Ireland's latest world champion.

Saunders, the current British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International Champion, and his manager and promoter Frank Warren have allowed Lee to fight the American star next, subject to approval from the WBO, and Saunders will fight the winner in a huge summer showdown.

Warren believes that a Lee-Saunders world title clash is a massive attraction and deserves to be staged at a premier location like a football stadium.

Saunders previously stepped aside to allow Lee to fight the heavily fancied Russian Matt Korobov for the WBO World title in December, so he could take on Chris Eubank Jnr.

“As any boxer would if they had the opportunity to fight for the world title they would want it immediately, that’s the business we’re in, I want to prove that I’m the best in the world and I believe that I can beat Lee or Quillin right now,” said Saunders

“Frank’s right in that the fight between me and Lee, if he defends his title against Quillin, will be a massive fight and needs to be held on the biggest stage and that’s a football stadium, the fight will only get bigger and bigger, so the timing needs to be right and it needs to wait until the summer.”

Lee has lost just two fights in 34 with 24 stoppages.