All-Gypsy title matchup: Billy Joe Saunders takes aim at Andy Lee's middleweight belt

In The United Kingdom they're called Travellers.

In the United States, we know them as Gypsies.

In boxing, you know them mostly as tough-as-nails fighters.

Whatever you call them, Ireland's Andy Lee and the UK's Billy Joe Saunders are both members of that traveling Gypsy community, and on Saturday night they will be fighting for Lee's WBO middleweight title from the UK's Manchester Arena (Showtime Extreme, 5 p.m. ET/PT). Both fighters came in at weight on Friday, so the title is officially up for grabs.

It's believed to be boxing's first All-Gypsy title fight, at least in the modern era. Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs) was the first known Traveller to become a world champion when he knocked out Matt Korobov to capture the vacant WBO title a year ago.

Lee, 31, was born in London and raised in Ireland. He's related to another Gypsy pugilist, new heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who knocked off Wladimir Klitschko last month, then got himself in hot water in the media with sexist and homophobic rants. Lee's and Fury's grandmothers are sisters, according to Glyn Evans of Boxnation.com.

Saunders, 26, a former British Olympian, comes from a long line of Romany Gypsies. His great-great grandfather, Absolom Beeney, was one of England's legendary bare knuckles fighters. According to Boxnation, Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs) still lives on wheels in Hatfield, Hertsfordshire, and even speaks some Romany. He may be a true Gypsy, but he says he's fighting more for himself than his people or anyone else.

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"It's one of them things, you know?" he said about the All-Gypsy showdown. "It's exciting, but at the end of the day, I've had this dream since I was a young boy. I want to make history and become the world champion for myself. So that's what's more important to me."

Lee, who has never made a big deal of his Gypsy heritage, said, "Saunders being a fellow traveler does add another layer, but at the end the day it's about how good you are and he's not good enough to beat me."

The Travellers community is not exactly welcomed with open arms in the UK, and Fury's recent crude remarks about homosexuality and women haven't helped.

"First of all, there's obviously good and bad in everything and everyone," Saunders snapped. "Boxing has been (on the ropes) in the media because of a few things that Tyson (Fury) said.

"It's not really going to matter to me if they give me good press, bad press, whatever. As long as I get the win, I'm doing it for myself and my travelling, not for anybody else."

Fighting an Irish Traveller is a motivating factor for Saunders, but the stacked middleweight division is what makes Saunders drool with excitement.

"The most motivation for me is what's on the line," Saunders told Paste BN Sports. "And you can look over the fence and see what's on the other side. Big fights. That's big, big motivation.

"(Gennady) Golovkin, he's the man of the moment at 160. But look at any other 160 (pounder), and if they step in the ring with me, I'll do the job on them. But there's some good fights out there. You got Canelo now at that weight as well. So, yeah, big fights."

Saunders, who has never fought outside of the UK, would love to create the opportunity to take his talents across the Atlantic. That will likely happen if he takes Lee's belt.

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"Listen I would love to come to the states," he said. "I've been dreaming of that since I been a young boy. So obviously if the right fights and opportunities come up for me to go to the states to fight, I would love to."

Asked if becoming the 12th reigning world champion from Great Britain brings added motivation, Saunders remained steadfast.

"Like I said earlier, I'm doing it for myself. It's nice to do it for Britain and everything else, but since I've been five years old I've been working for this moment," he said. "So first of all I'll be looking at pleasing myself and my three sons, and then obviously I'll be thanking the British fans and it will be for them as well."

Lee admits that once the bell rings, he becomes a totally different character.

"It's like there's a switch as soon as I hear a knock on the dressing room door saying 'time to walk'," he said. "There's a transition in me and I become a horrible, nasty, person and that will come out in this fight.

"Yes, there's a lot stake between us - my family name and honor, his family name and honor, but more importantly my world title is at stake."

Saunders, meanwhile, is confident the fight will turn out the way he expects. One thing he's not lacking is confidence. The two southpaws can box as well as punch, and Lee has said he will outbox Saunders.

"Andy's a good, seasoned pro, he's been in there with some good fighters," Saunders said. "He won them fights, but he could've lost 'em just as easy.

"I'm looking to exploit him Saturday night. People's got either Lee by knockout or me by points, but I don't see it that way at all. People will have to sit down and watch me and they'll see for themselves that I'm going to (bring home) the title."

(Photo of Saunders, left and Lee, during Friday's weigh-in, by Frank Warren)