By Jake Donovan
Billy Joe Saunders has taken a key step in securing the type of superfights he’s long craved.
The unbeaten two-division titlist from England is expected to sign a lucrative deal with Matchroom Boxing and sports streaming service DAZN, multiple sources with knowledge of such talks informed BoxingScene.com.
Once finalized, the move will conclude a brief foray into the free agent market following an amicable split with longtime promoter Frank Warren, earlier this month.
Shortly after the aforementioned parting, it was first reported by The Athletic boxing insider Mike Coppinger that England’s Saunders was already in advanced talks with Matchroom Boxing—the leading promotional outfit in the United Kingdom and Warren’s longtime industry rival—for a pact that would add him to the growing list of top fighters in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions.
Other options were still being explored, although a Sunday morning online tease suggested the strong likelihood of such talks having successfully concluded.
“New signing announced Tuesday,” read a digital banner posted by the social media team at Matchroom Boxing, whom did not respond to an inquiry from BoxingScene.com seeking comment or further clarification.
Representatives from Saunders’ management team declined comment to BoxingScene.com.
Saunders (28-0, 13KOs) became a sought-after commodity the moment he declared himself eligible to sign with the most attractive bidder. The brash Brit has for years been vocal about big fights with World middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and former titlist Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin, as well as a domestic showdown with countryman and unbeaten super middleweight titlist Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith.
All three are currently aligned with sports streaming platform DAZN, as is unbeaten middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade.
Still, Saunders didn’t want to leave any stone unturned.
There was even a chance of his remaining closely associated with Warren, as the Hatfield-based southpaw—who turns 30 years old later this month—received a generous offer from Top Rank and ESPN, according to sources. Warren signed a pact with Top Rank founder Bob Arum last fall for his Queensberry Promotions shows in the UK to stream live on ESPN+ in the United States.
The offer was reportedly enticing to remain home, so to speak, as ESPN’s streaming service carried Saunders’ vacant super middleweight title winning effort over Shefat Isufi this past May. However, DAZN’s offer was significantly better, not to mention boasting far greater options for his career path than would have been afforded in an exclusive deal with ESPN.
Specifically at super middleweight, Saunders’ best hope would have been with Premier Boxing Champions, whom houses titlists Anthony Dirrell and Caleb Plant, along with a healthy assortment of top-rated contenders. Sources indicated to BoxingScene.com, however, that such an option was never fully considered, as management company MTK Global does the bulk of its business with ESPN+ and DAZN.
That led back to reportedly agreeing to terms with Matchroom and DAZN. All four of the platform’s aforementioned best options are currently without an opponent or confirmed fight date for their next respective ring appearances, although Golovkin (39-1-1, 35KOs) is in advanced talks for a vacant middleweight title fight versus Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Saunders has previously pursued fights with Alvarez (52-1-2, 35KOs) and Smith (26-0, 19KOs), only for neither option to never materialize. A deal was very much in place for a middleweight title defense versus Andrade last October, only for Saunders to have tested positive for banned substance Oxilofrine.
The adverse finding came during random pre-fight drug testing through Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA). Because of World Anti-Doping Agency code followed in the United Kingdom—which is recognized by United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) and British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), the finding was classified as having occurred “out-of-competition”, which freed him up to fight on that side of the Atlantic.
It did little to secure his title defense scheduled for Boston, Mass., however. The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission instead aligned itself with VADA’s finding and the agency’s zero-tolerance policy (despite VADA lacking the authority to cancel a fight), and denied Saunders a boxing license. The ruling cost him the middleweight title, as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) deemed him unfit to defend the strap he'd held for nearly three years.
Two wins have followed, both coming well outside the middleweight limit including his aforementioned title win earlier this year. He has not ruled out a return to the middleweight division, although at the forefront is a desired showdown with Smith in what would be a big event in England.
Whatever his desire at 168 or one division south, the world figures to be right at his fingertips once Matchroom’s big reveal is brought to light on Tuesday.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
