Tag Archives: Billy Joe Saunders
Dmitry Bivol Offers to Drop Down in Weight for Canelo Clash
By: Hans Themistode
With Canelo Alvarez presumably in need of a new opponent for his first ring appearance of the year, WBA Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, has attempted to throw his name into the mix.
Before COVID-19, placed a stranglehold on the entire sports world, WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders scored the golden ticket. For Saunders however, it wasn’t COVID-19 that got in his way for his dream contest, but it was actually himself.
During this worldwide pandemic, Saunders thought it would be funny to post a video telling men how to physically abuse their spouse.
Saunders found it hilarious, but no one else did as his boxing license was immediately suspended. Now that he might have taken himself out of the mix, Bivol wants to replace him.
“I’ve said now for over a year that I’m ready, willing and able to move down to super middleweight and fight Canelo,” said Bivol. “I have been training throughout the COVID-19 crisis and have watched on social media that Canelo has as well.”
“I know that my team and Golden Boy Promotions have discussed this option. We are willing to make the fight on very reasonable financial terms. My team understands that unlike many other opponents, my goal is not the payday, but to face the best in boxing today. I know I can beat him and the real rewards will come after this fight.”
Even before Saunders was penciled in as an opponent, many of the top names in the sport turned Alvarez down. Opportunities such as facing a pound for pound great fighter in his prime don’t come often. But for fighters such as WBA Super Middleweight champ Callum Smith, the money just wasn’t enough. Bivol though, is willing to take a discount.
Don’t misunderstand Bivol’s point of view. Sure he wants to get paid, we all do, don’t we? But if he can lock down a fight with Alvarez and actually pull off the win, he’ll find himself swimming in cash in no time.
Bivol has a slight eye on the gold at the end of the Canelo rainbow. But more importantly, if he does land the mega showdown, he’ll finally have a career defining fight.
“We are willing to work out a much more reasonable deal than what was paid to Canelo’s recent opponents to make this fight. For Dmitry it’s more about the opportunity to dethrone one of the very best fighters in the world.”
“I have heard that DAZN and all other parties involved are supportive of this fight. But whenever the name is brought up to Canelo, he says he would never do it. However I don’t know how much truth there is to this. It would be great to know if he is ready to fight other top champions in his division. One’s that are on the same network and are ready to make a simple and appropriate deal. I strongly believe that Dmitry Bivol at Super Middleweight is the toughest test for Canelo.”
“Dmitry wants to fight the best and Canelo is all the way at the top of that list right now. This fight will have to happen sooner or later. The fans want to see a fight where Canelo will really be tested.”
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Chris Eubank Jr Doesn’t Give Callum Smith or Billy Joe Saunders a Chance to Beat Canelo
By: Hans Themistode
When it was first announced that Canelo Alvarez would be taking on Billy Joe Saunders on May 2nd, for Saunders WBO Super Middleweight title, the news was met with ambivalence.
Sure Saunders has always flashed greatness in the ring. But he’s also shown to have the capability to completely stink up the joint.
After back to back impressive wins over Willie Monroe Jr and. David Lemieux, Saunders had never seen his stock look any higher. But in a pattern that has defined his career, Saunders followed up those huge wins with lackluster performances against Shefat Isufi and Marcelo Esteban. Saunders managed to pull out the win in both contests, but he hardly looked impressive.
Regardless of his recent performances however, Saunders has now found himself in the biggest fight of his career.
Maybe.
With Saunders making the poor choice of releasing a video depicting how to physically abuse your wife, his boxing license has been immediately taken away. He isn’t completely out of the running to land a fight with Canelo as a meeting to discuss his future has been set, but there is one fighter who would rather them not face off at all.
“It would be a more exciting fight with me [against Canelo] rather than Saunders or Smith,” said Eubank Jr.”
“The entire world knows that Saunders would run for 12 rounds in a boring fight. Then would be caught and knocked out. That is not a fight I’m interested in seeing. I don’t get the interest. Saunders has a belt which is the only reason he has this opportunity but, who knows, maybe that belt won’t be with him for much longer if he’s banned after what he’s done.”
Eubank Jr has been called a lot of things. Not very skilled, a front runner and even a non contender but never a boring fighter. But a fight between himself and Canelo seems far from likely. Another fighter who also found himself on the short list of opponents for Canelo’s next ring appearance was WBA Super Middleweight champion Callum Smith.
While many believe that the tall, lanky but also hard hitting Smith would cause Canelo a ton of trouble, Eubank Jr see’s that matchup playing out in yet another easy victory for Canelo.
“Smith’s performance against John Ryder? We saw a lot of weaknesses in his game. Canelo is a far superior version of Ryder in terms of his style – come-forward, inside-fighting. Smith couldn’t deal with that against Ryder so what are they thinking? He barely got past Ryder. I think Ryder won that fight.”
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If Saunders is Out, Who Should Canelo Face Next?
By: Hans Themistode
Billy Joe Saunders scored the golden ticket. Then, in true Billy Joe Saunders like fashion, he lost it. Or at least that’s what it seems like.
Getting a contest against pound for pound star Canelo Alvarez isn’t easy. When you campaign at three different weight classes, the options are endless. Yet, Saunders did enough both in the ring, and with his words, to land the biggest fight of his career.
On May 2nd, in Las Vegas Nevada, Saunders was set to take on Alvarez with his WBO Super Middleweight title on the line. Even with the Coronavirus pandemic pressing pause on all sporting events around the world, Saunders had nothing to worry about. Alvarez already agreed to fight him. So when boxing officially opened its doors, Saunders was the first man in line to take on boxing’s biggest star.
The WBO Super Middleweight champion didn’t need to do anything. Just find a way to stay in shape and prepare for the fight of his life.
Hell, if Saunders simply locked himself inside of his room and chose not to re-emerge until the date of the fight, he would be a happy man. But, with boredom getting the best of him, Saunders thought it would be funny to release a video of himself punching a heavy bag.
Seems innocent right?
That would be true until you realize Saunders made said heavy bag play the role of wives all over the world. With everyone quarantining at home to prevent the spread of the virus, Saunders thought it would be funny to record a video of what all husbands should do to their wives should they get on their nerves too much.
Not only did several people find it not funny, but now, Saunders had his boxing license taken away.
It’s too early to tell, but his chances of facing Alvarez now looks a bit bleak.
So what should Alvarez do? If Saunders is officially out, then who should replace him? Keep reading to find out some viable options.
Gennady Golovkin
Before the Coronavirus sent boxing to the sidelines, not only was Alvarez set to take on Saunders, but he was also ready to fight fellow Middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin for a third time. But with boxing on an indefinite hiatus, and with Saunders seemingly out as an opponent, then why not just jump straight into a contest against Golovkin?
If we’re lucky, boxing will return during the second half of the year, sometime in the fall. Although Alvarez usually gets two fights in per year, he could be forced to settle for one. If that’s the case, then allow these two to put an end to their rivalry once and for all.
Jaime Munguia
23 year old Jaime Munguia has some pretty big aspirations. Not only does he want to win a world title in his second weight class, but he also wants to be known as one of the greatest Mexican fighters ever. He can accomplish the first part of his goals with some careful matchmaking. But in order to achieve the second part, he’ll need to take on some big names. In the case of Canelo Alvarez, it doesn’t get any bigger.
If Alvarez is steadfast on fighting twice this year and doesn’t simply want a soft touch, then a fight against Munguia makes sense.
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Billy Joe Saunders Gets License Suspended and is Ripped by Heather Hardy and Claressa Shields
By: Hans Themistode
For the better part of four years, WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders spent the vast majority of his time calling out Canelo Alvarez. After years of employing the same tactics, Saunders finally got his wish. A date with Alvarez on May 2nd with Saunders WBO title on the line.
Now, ironically enough, Saunders used his words to land the biggest fight of his career. But now, his words are about to cost him.
With the entire world seemingly on quarantine thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, Saunders thought it would be funny to share a video of what men should do to their female spouses should they get on their nerves too much during isolation.
Saunders quickly found out that he was the only one in the room laughing.
Domestic violence has always been a hot button topic. Too many athletes have found themselves in trouble for simply failing to keep their hands to themselves. Saunders may not have actually put his hands on a female, but everyone, including his promoter Eddie Hearn is shaking their head at him.
“I was appalled really,” said Hearn. “It was so idiotic, it was so frustrating because I know Billy well. He’s a really good kid, with a really good heart … but every now and again he does the most stupid things.”
“It’s unacceptable for Joe Bloggs down the street to do it. It’s much more unacceptable for a world champion boxer to be doing it. People who are in abusive relationships are watching that video. You cannot do it, it’s unacceptable.”
Unfortunately, domestic violence is a common occurrence. Yet, you might be willing to bet that one woman has never had to deal with it. That would be arguably the best female boxer in the world, Claressa Shields. With two gold medals, world titles in three different weight classes and an undefeated record, you would have to be crazy to even think about putting your hands on Shields.
While she isn’t worried about herself. She did offer a bit of advice to all the ladies in abusive relationships.
Brutal? Yes.
Necessary? Also yes.
Another fighter who decided to jump all over Billy Joe Saunders is former WBO Featherweight champion Heather Hardy.
“This is not funny,” Hardy wrote in a Tweet that she has since deleted. “I can’t imagine the number of people quarantined in abusive and dangerous spaces right now, and this dumb piece of sh*t makes a joke about ‘how to hit your annoying wife.”
The words of Hardy, Shields and Hearn were sharp, but Saunders really felt it when his boxing license was suspended.
“Having considered comments made by Billy Joe Saunders on social media,” the BBBofC said in a statement, “we have suspended his boxer’s license pending a hearing under the board’s misconduct regulation, at a time and venue to be confirmed as soon as possible.”
Saunders has always been known as having thick skin and unapologetic. But this time around, he’s noticed that he made a huge mistake.
For what it’s worth, the boxing community has seemingly appreciated the apology. Even Hardy came around and apparently wants to sweep things under the rug.
While Hardy may not think that Saunders is “dick head” the rest of the world may still feel that way. He has always been perceived in an unfavorable light and this situation certainly doesn’t help.
If Saunders hopes to get into the good graces of everyone he’ll need to take even more action. That would include becoming a social advocate against domestic violence.
As for his contest with Canelo, unless he can somehow get his license back, he may have lost the biggest fight of his career before it even started.
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Billy Joe Saunders on Canelo Alvarez: “We’ve Seen The Best of Him”
By: Hans Themistode
Canelo Alvarez has been called many names. A champion, a warrior, maybe even a prima-donna. But an underachiever? Never.
When Alvarez first came onto the boxing scene in 2005, he was viewed as a good fighter.
Wins over Matthew Hatton and Ryan Rhodes pushed him from good to very good. While victories over Carlos Baldomir and Josesito Lopez nudged him to the great category.
In early 2013, Alvarez seemingly hit his peak. He was fresh off a win against Shane Mosley and managed to unify the Super Welterweight division with a close win over Austin Trout.
For as great as Alvarez was, it seemed to be time to place him amongst the all-time greats. But a contest against Floyd Mayweather put an end to that thought as Alvarez lost virtually every round.
A loss as embarrassing as that one, often carries terrible after effects on the rest of a fighters career.
Simply put, once you’ve been dominated in that fashion, it just isn’t easy to bounce back from it.
Yet, in the case of Alvarez, that is exactly what he did. He picked up quick wins against Alfredo Angulo and Erislandy Lara in 2014. He then followed that up with even better wins against James Kirkland and Miguel Cotto.
But a funny thing happened during the course of those big wins. He got better and better.
The butt kicking that Alvarez suffered at the hands of Mayweather apparently molded him into a much better fighter. Some would even venture to say that he stole a few things from Mayweather and placed them into his own game.
With wins over Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t seem as though Alvarez is a finished product just yet. But according to his next opponent WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, that’s an idiotic statement.
“For me it’s all about winning. I really do rate him. I think that he’s a brilliant fighter, he’s complete, but the thing is – I believe that we’ve seen the best of him. We haven’t seen the best of me yet. I have seen the absolute best of him. The Golovkin fight twice, the Danny Jacobs fight, he’s not going to get any better than that.”
To say that Saunders isn’t exactly the biggest fan of Alvarez would be putting it mildly. For years, he’s called his man every bad word in the dictionary, but it’s worked. He’s trash talked his way to the biggest fight of his career and is now in a position where he has to back his words up.
Still, even with all of the bad blood between them Saunders is no fool. The trash talking that he used to score a fight with Alvarez paid off. But he knows exactly what he’s dealing with.
“I rate him as the best pound-for-pound at the moment. For me to defeat him, it’s just not about money. Don’t get me wrong, we’re all in it for the money. But for me, if they were to say, ‘you’re definitely going to win, but you’re going to go home and you’re not having a penny, I’d say ‘yes, let’s do that,'” Saunders said on Instagram Live.
“I believe on my night, as long as everything is bang on right for me, I believe I’ve got the beating of Canelo Alvarez, but he’s a brilliant champion. You have to beat the best to be the best.”
Saunders, unlike Canelo, has been viewed as a bit of an underachiever. One minute he looks unbeatable just as he did in his wins against Andy Lee, Willie Monroe Jr and David Lemieux. Other times, like in his dreadful performance against Marcelo Coceres, you wonder how he got his hands on a world title to begin with.
Both Alvarez had been slated to face off against one another on May 2nd, however, with the Coronavirus currently putting a halt on seemingly everything, their contest has been pushed back to an unspecified date.
Regardless of when they actually do step into the ring against one another, Saunders will need to resemble the best version of himself if he expects to leave with a victory on the night.
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Eddie Hearn Still Believes Billy Joe Saunders vs Canelo Alvarez Will Happen Just Unsure When
By: Hans Themistode
For the past few years, WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has been calling for a shot at pound for pound star Canelo Alvarez.
With back to back wins over Willie Monroe Jr and David Lemieux back in 2017, Saunders had effectively placed himself in the Canelo drivers seat. Yet, he was passed up by Gennadiy Golovkin and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Saunders dreams of fighting Canelo Alvarez seemed like a distant memory. But fast forward three years and add three additional wins to his resume and Saunders finds himself in the position he had been waiting for.
On May 2nd, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Saunders will finally receive his wish. The undefeated Super Middleweight champ will place his WBO title on the line in the bout he had been waiting for.
After years of waiting, Saunders finally landed his man. Or at least he hopes he did.
The unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic that has currently swept the entire sports world under the rug, has placed Saunders vs Canelo in major jeopardy. Their Super Middleweight contest has already been pushed back from their May date and has been tentatively set for June.
So now, like much of the sports world, the question of whether or not the contest will take place at all, is something that is almost impossible to answer at this point.
“Everything now depends on when the sport begins, because that fight was supposed to take place on Cinco de Mayo [weekend],” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Now we know that’s definitely not happening.”
If Canelo vs Saunders is pushed back even further, then there is a good chance it won’t happen at all. Reason being, is that a highly anticipated third contest between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin has been agreed too for September 12th.
Needless to say, a third Golovkin contest would be far more lucrative for Canelo. It would also do much more to enhance his already impressive resume. Still, even with their contest without a definitive date, Hearn believes that his man is next in line no matter what.
“Will boxing return in June, July? If it does, there’s every chance that Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez in that period, and the date of the Golovkin fight will be put back. I think with the whole disruption, the old Cinco de Mayo and [Mexican Independence Day] will weekend have to take a back seat.”
For now, while the world waits on a decision, Saunders continues to play his part to prepare himself for the biggest fight of his life.
“Right now, Billy Joe Saunders is actually in Vegas, training,” Hearn said. “We were supposed to have a press conference on Monday, to announce the Canelo Alvarez fight. He’s out training with Ben Davison and Josh Taylor, who has just had his fight postponed for May 2 as well. No one knows what they’re doing. It’s the moment where you’ve got to stay focused, you’ve got to stay disciplined. I believe Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez, as long as the boxing schedule returns this summer.”
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GGG vs Canelo 3 Set for September 12th
By: Hans Themistode
With the Coronavirus grabbing every headline around the sports world, Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin have effectively grabbed some back.
Albeit temporarily.
The two pound for pound stars have already shared the ring with each other on two separate occasions, but on September 12th, they have agreed to do so once again.
As part of the agreement, both men must get through their interim bouts. Canelo’s coming against WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders. Golovkin on the other hand, must get past his mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta.
Since back to back fights in 2017 and 2018, Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs) has gone up to the 168 pound division to take on Rocky Fielding. Winning that contest via brutal third round stoppage. He followed that up with a win over Daniel Jacobs at the 160 pound limit, before ultimately moving up two weight divisions to the 175 pound weight class, to knock off Sergey Kovalev.
There has always been doubts that Canelo would ever drop back down to the Middleweight division. Yet for his third contest against Golovkin, it is in fact scheduled to take place at the 160 pound limit.
The feud between Canelo and Golovkin has been ongoing for years. The dislike for one another also stretches far beyond the ring.
Since handing Golovkin the first loss of his career in 2018, after fighting to a highly controversial split decision draw the first time around, Canelo reportedly wanted no parts of Golovkin. The four division champ is by no means scared of his rival, he just simply can’t stand him. So much so that although Canelo signed a record setting 365 million dollar, 11 fight deal, he has asked DAZN for more money to fight Golovkin.
Per each fight, Canelo pockets roughly 35 million. It isn’t quite clear if DAZN acquiesced to his demands, but they were at the very least made.
Since signing with DAZN in 2019, Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) has made two appearances on the streaming services. In June of 2019, Golovkin cruised past Steve Rolls via fourth round stoppage. Leaving his man face down and unaware of his surroundings. Golovkin followed that up with a harder than expected win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko later on that year in October.
The plans of their contest is still a tentative one at this point as the entire sports world remains on hold as the Coronavirus continues its stranglehold. Canelo’s May 2nd appearance with Billy Joe Saunders has already been reportedly pushed back to a date in June.
For now, Canelo vs Golovkin seem to be on course for September 12th. Unless of course, they are forced to push their contest back due to the Coronavirus.
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Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders Set For May 2nd
By: Hans Themistode
Boxing fans have waited patiently for Canelo Alvarez to choose his next opponent. When you campaign at three different weight classes, making the decision can be a lot more difficult than many realize.
With Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs) holding belts at Middleweight, Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight, although he did drop his 175 pound belt, there was no telling which direction he was going to be heading. Each weight class was screaming at the top it’s lungs to be chosen. With fighters such as WBC titlist Jermall Charlo and WBO belt holder Demetrius Andrade in the Middleweight division, each man could make an argument for why they should be chosen. In fact, they did. But both men were overlooked.
A fight with unified Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev looked great on paper, and truth be told, would have looked even better in the ring. But just like Charlo and Andrade, Beterbiev was left behind as well.
Canelo has decided to bypass those aforementioned divisions and stick right in the middle. The Super Middleweight division is where Canelo will call home. At least for now.
The WBA “Regular” champion is set to square off against WBO belt holder Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) on May 2nd.
Much like everyone else, Saunders made his case for a shot with Canelo. Yet, the argument could be made that his was the least compelling. Other than Saunders one sided beating over David Lemieux in 2017, he hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire.
In his last contest against Marcelo Esteban Coceres, Saunders may have walked away with the stoppage victory, but many were in agreement that it wasn’t his best performance.
Focus has always been the issue for Saunders. If his head is in the game, then good luck beating him. But there lies the problem, his head hasn’t always been in the game.
Still, with Saunders calling Canelo out for years, he has finally gotten his wish. His fellow countrymen and current WBA “Super” champion Callum Smith was also in the running to land a fight with Canelo. Both men seemed to be playing hardball with the four division champion, in the hopes of landing more money.
Mission accomplished. For Saunders that is.
The WBO titlist now enters the biggest fight of his life. The money and fame that are associated with Canelo’s name will, for the time being, be associated with Saunders as well.
For as disappointing as Saunders has been in his most recent contests, a win over Canelo will sweep all of his past transgressions under the rug. If however, Saunders finds himself on the wrong end of an easy win for Canelo, his dreams of staying under the bright lights will be a short one.
With Canelo vs Saunders official, the countdown to May 2nd, starts now.
