Andy Lee vs Affif Belghecham, University of Limerick

CHEEKY French middleweight Affif Belghecham arrived in Limerick today and predicted that Irish boxing and soccer fans would be singing Les Bleus on Saturday.

Belghecham, the current EU and French champ, says, get this, that himself and the French football team are on a different level to Paddy the boxer and Paddy the soccer player !

Deport all French men out of the country. Take away their cheese and their wine.

Belghecham and Lee meet in a battle of the southpaws shortly after the final whistle has gone in Croke Park in Ireland’s massive World Cup Playoff encounter with the French.

With the match being shown live on the big screens in the University Sports Arena Belghecham believes that those in attendance will be in for double disappointment.

Le Frog said: The Irish people have proven that they are warriors over the years. You only have to look at their spirited performances on the rugby and football pitches and of course in the boxing ring but sport is about levels and I believe that unfortunately for the Irish both myself and the French footballers are on a different level to our opponents this weekend.

Belghecham won the French Middleweight title earlier this year to follow in the footsteps of French boxing legend Marcel Cerdan. The “Casablanca Clouter” won the French and European Middleweight crowns en route to becoming World Middleweight Champ in 1948.  Like Cerdan, Belghecham is of Algerian stock and he admits that Cerdan’s achievements are a source of great inspiration to him.

I am blessed to have two cultures and two countries in my heart – just like Marcel. It’s something that has shaped me and made me the warrior I am. Cerdan was a legend and one of the greatest fighters from any nation and any era.

Of course I would love to follow in his footsteps and even to hold the French Middleweight title that he once held is very special for me. To become World Champion would be a dream come true and I know that a win over Andy Lee will get me a step closer to realising that dream.

Despite his confidence the visitor says he has plenty of respect for Lee’s undoubted talents: I have watched Lee and it’s easy to see why everyone is so excited about him in Ireland. He has tremendous potential but I think this fight has come too soon for him and my championship experience will prove the difference on Saturday night.

Doors open at the University Arena from 6pm with the first bout at 7:20. Fans wishing to catch all the action from the crucial World Cup play off from Croke Park between Ireland and France will also be catered for with the game shown live on the big screens at the arena on what promises to be a massive night of sport in Limerick.

RTÉ TWO’s live coverage of the event begins at 10:30 directly after their broadcast from Croke Park. Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie), The George Boutique Hotel in Limerick and all usual outlets.