Billy Joe Saunders: record, next fight and profile →
A middleweight title will be at stake on Saturday, June 23, live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ — the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company's Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, in partnership with ESPN.
CARSON, California – As important as it is to Gennady Golovkin to one day own all of boxing’s recognized middleweight titles, his trainer has given up hope of that happening. Abel Sanchez is certain Golovkin would beat Billy Joe Saunders if they ever fought. Sanchez also is convinced that Saunders, the WBO 160-pound champion, doesn’t genuinely want to challenge Golovkin for full middleweight supremacy.
NEW YORK – Daniel Jacobs would “love” to fight Billy Joe Saunders next. Jacobs even embraced the thought of challenging England’s Saunders for his WBO middleweight title in the United Kingdom during a post-fight press conference early Sunday morning at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Eddie Hearn, Jacobs’ promoter, thinks that transatlantic trip might be the only way Brooklyn’s Jacobs could land a shot at Saunders’ title because Saunders would want too much money to box Jacobs in the United States.
Middleweight contender Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan (27-2, 19 KOs) is hoping to secure a major fight in the fall. He returns to the ring on Friday night, as part of a Golden Boy on ESPN card at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Billy Joe Saunders believes he is a “level above” Martin Murray but says their world title fight will show how he compares to knockout king Gennady Golovkin. WBO middleweight champion Saunders, who is keen for a title unification fight with Golovkin, will face his fellow Briton in London on June 23.
Billy Joe Saunders has branded Canelo Alvarez a "cheat" and believes the Mexican should never box again. Alvarez, who had already withdrawn from his Las Vegas rematch with Gennady Golovkin, received a sixth-month ban last week having failed two drugs tests in February.
Martin Murray has taken a swipe at Frank Warren ahead of his fight with Billy Joe Saunders. The St Helens middleweight will challenge the Hatfield ace for the WBO belt in just over two months’ time. Murray, with a victory, will hold the only belt that is not in the custody of Gennady Golovkin, the Kazakh WBC, WBA Super, IBO and IBF champion. But he is concerned that the promoter of the show –– on June 23 at the O2 Arena in London –– is dismissing his chances of winning the fight.
WBO world middleweight king Billy Joe Saunders has reiterated his desire to unify the division and offered "cheat" Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez some diet tips. Saunders (26-0-KO12) is recovering from the hand injury that forced him to delay a defence against Martin Murray until June 23 but remains determined to earn his showdown with WBA Super, WBC, IBO and IBF champion Gennady Golovkin this year.
Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that talks are in progress for WBO Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders to face WBA, WBC, IBO and IBF Champion Gennady Golovkin in the autumn, should he come through his fight with Martin Murray at London’s 02 Arena on June 23rd. Golovkin was due to fight Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on May 5th in Las Vegas, but the Mexican withdrew from the rematch on Tuesday, causing widespread rumours that Saunders would step in as a late replacement.
With Canelo Alvarez temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, his May 5th rematch with Gennady Golovkin is in jeopardy. The Mexican superstar tested positive for banned drug clenbuterol twice and is now required to appear at a commission hearing on April 10th. Golovkin's camp have discussed bringing in Billy Joe Saunders as a replacement in case Canelo is banned. Saunders, who recently injured his hand, insists that he won't be treated as a back-up plan.