WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) was not pleased with the performance in his American debut on Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Saunders struggled before coming out of nowhere to stop previously undefeated Marcelo Coceres (28-1-1, 15 KOs) in the eleventh round.
From the start, Saunders was quicker and landing the better punches. Coceres was game and performed better than what many had expected. In some rounds, neither boxer was landing anything to make a dent and missing much of the counters.
The fight became much closer than expected because Saunders was not putting his foot on the gas in the second half.
In the eleventh round, Saunders dropped Coceres with a big right hook. He then landed an uppercut to send Coceres down for a second time, and then dropped him for a third time to force the stoppage.
Saunders admits the win was not exactly the statement he was looking for to force a lucrative fight against Canelo Alvarez or Daniel Jacobs.
“There’s no excuses. The performance was not worthy of Canelo or Jacobs, but I came here five days before. I knew in my head I had to get him out of here. My timing was off my, movement was off, everything was off. I wanted to impress the crowd. Hopefully you enjoyed the KO, all I could do tonight," Saunders said.
“I had a chest and cough, but no excuses. I was not 100% fighting mentally. I was tired, but needed to get him out in the ninth. I just needed to look calm and needed to let him gas. This is the experience I’ve had before. Had to let him gas. Continue to follow me, this wasn’t the best of me.
“I’ve been in big fights, needed to stay cool. As being champion you know when to step on the gas, and you need to step on the gas at some point. It’s the difference between winning and losing.
“Canelo if you want to become four-weight champion, take me now because this is the time to make it happen. I want Canelo. I respect you, you’ve done big things for the sport.”