WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee's bout in New York on Saturday (1.30am Irish time on Sunday) is now a non-title fight after challenger Peter Quillin failed to make the weight.

The undefeated Quillin intitially weighed in at 161.4lbs and was given two hours to get down to the 160lb limit. However, he could only manage 160.6lbs.

That means that Lee, who came in under at 159.6lbs, no longer has to put his title on the line.

WBO regulations state: "If the champion makes the weight and the challenger fails to do so, the champion, whether or not he loses the fight, shall retain the title."

Quillin later tweeted: "What can I say? I didn't make weight. I want to apologize to Andy Lee and to all my supporters and fans. I made every effort to make weight but it just wasn't meant to be and I have no one else to blame but myself.

"I may not win a title tomorrow but I still have a fight to win and I still plan to put on a good performance. I promised to use this as a learning experience for the future. God bless."

Lee's first defence of his title will now be expected to come against mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders, who waived his right to fight Lee first in anticipation of a big summer bout.

That contest could well come on Irish soil, with Lee having already expressed his interest in a summer blockbuster in front of his home fans.