Billy Joe Saunders: record, next fight and profile →
Recently Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs), the current WBO middleweight belt-holder, was given an exception to bypass his mandatory challenger, Avantil Khurtsidze, who took a step-aside fee. According to Saunders, he is now free to pursue a much bigger fight.
Chris Eubank Sr., father and trainer of IBO super middleweight world champion Chris Eubank Jr., can't see any way that his son can be defeated by the likes of WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, IBO/WBA/WBC/IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Andre Ward.
Chris Eubank Jnr insists he will not rest until he "rights the wrong" of his defeat by Billy Joe Saunders, despite the fact he is just two days away from fighting Renold Quinlan. The 27-year-old has long spoken of his belief that victory on Saturday against little-known Australian Quinlan, for the lightly-regarded IBO super-middleweight title, will open numerous opportunities for him because of its presence on ITV Box Office.
After the announcement that Adam Booth was confirmed as Billy Joe Saunders’ new trainer, many welcomed the news of the new partnership and the decision was widely-praised. Towards the end of 2016, the WBO world middleweight champion split with Jimmy Tibbs and a few weeks ago tweeted that he was the latest addition to Booth’s growing stable.
Tureano Johnson (19-1, 13 KOs), in active since October 2015 due to injury, will return tomorrow night as part of a Golden Boy Promotions card in Indio, California. The event will feature an HBO televised doubleheader with Francisco Vargas facing Miguel Berchelt and Takashi Miura battling Miguel Roman.
The WBO informed promoters for its middleweight champion, Billy Joe Saunders, and No. 1 contender Avtandil Khurtsidze on Thursday to begin negotiations for a title fight. If Frank Warren, Saunders’ promoter, and Lou DiBella, Khurtsidze’s promoter, can’t come to an agreement within 10 days a purse bid will be ordered. The minimum bid for the Saunders-Khurtsidze fight would be $200,000, as per WBO rules for the middleweight division.
While IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin prepares for his upcoming mandatory contest against Danny Jacobs at the Madison Square Garden on March 18th, there is speculation that a bout against WBO middleweight belt-holder, Billy Joe Saunders, could be taking place in the summer.
Having not fought since October 2015 due to injury, Tureano Johnson (19-1, 13 KOs) is understandably chomping at the bit to get back in the ring this Saturday in Indio, California. Mexico’s Antonio Gutiérrez (21-2-1, 9 KOs) will likely provide a stiff test for the returning middleweight who defeated Eamonn O’Kane last time out via unanimous decision.
WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) is still very confident in his ability to overcome Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33 KOs), who holds the IBO, IBF, WBC, WBA middleweight belts. Saunders made the first defense of his WBO title last month with a hard-fought win over Artur Akavov.
WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KO) is looking forward to a very big year. Last month, Saunders snapped a one-year layoff with a twelve round decision over Artur Akavov. The fight was much tougher than Saunders - or anyone else - would have predicted. It was Saunders' first world title defense since stunning Andy Lee in December 2015 to capture the belt.