By Charles Brun: Billy Joe Saunders may have thrown away his huge $7.5 million payday fight against Canelo Alvarez for the offensive video on social media of appearing to encourage domestic violence.
The Canelo vs. Saunders fight has already been postponed from the original date of May 2, and it was expected to be moved to June. Saunder’s promoter Eddie Hearn is now counting on it taking place in July, but he believes it could also happen all the way up to November. That would mean Canelo’s only fight this year would be Saunders instead of a bigger one against Gennadiy Golovikin.
Saunders could receive a lengthy ban
Under a worst-case scenario, Saunders could receive a lengthy ban by the British Boxing Board of Control if they take it to the limit, which would wipe out his fight with Canelo. Just how long the ban would be for Saunders is unknown. Some believe Saunders will receive a one-year ban by the BBCofC, and that would, of course, make a fight between him and Canelo impossible.
Saunders has already been suspended by the BBBofC until they hold a hearing. When that takes place, they’ll decide whether to increase the suspension or lift it. The hearing could take place this week. They reportedly want to get it done ASAP.
Saunders promoter Hearn remains confident that he’ll get the Canelo fight this year. Canelo has a much bigger fight on tap for September against Gennadiy Golovkin, but Hearn believes that the Mexican star will want to get a fight in before he takes on GGG. In other words, Canelo will still take the Saunders regardless of the recent news about his fighter.
“I think both Canelo and GGG would like to have a fight before they fight each other,” Hearn said via thesun.co.uk.
It sounds like Hearn is counting on Canelo turning a blind eye to huge backlash that Saunders is receiving now, and sticking it out with him as his opponent. Even if that’s so, the coronavirus could very well make that fight impossible. If boxing doesn’t restart until November or December, then it makes it unlikely that Saunders will get the Canelo bout.
There’s pressure on Canelo obviously to take the fight with GGG, considering that’s the one that will bring in a massive number of subscriptions to DAZN. In contrast, Saunders is a tick over fight for Canelo.
Adam Smith disappointed with Saunders
“I’m really disappointed to hear about the video from Billy Joe. I don’t know what he was thinking, and I think it was a terrible thing to do,” said Adam Smith of Sky Sports in speaking to IFL TV on Saunders recent offensive video.
“This is a time for us to get together. I said to Eddie [Hearn], ‘He [Saunders] went out, gave money and helped the NHS and then he posts a video like this.
“What is he doing? It’s such a shame. A lot of us who have known Billy Joe for a long time know that there’s a real goodness about him. There’s a big heart and a Billy Joe that we absolutely love, but there’s also a time and there have been many times now where he’s done things that he really shouldn’t have done.
“As Eddie said, ‘It was terrible.’ It was awful. I’m not surprised the board has done what it’s done, and his name, which should have been celebrated a few weeks ago that he was going to get the Canelo fight.
“It was a big opportunity that he had waited for and told us that he’s wanted for a long time, and then to be hitting the headlines at a really difficult and sensitive time like this for those reasons, it was a very bad thing to do,” said Smith.
There’s still a chance that Saunders can get the Canelo fight in 2020, but a lot will depend on what the BBBofC decide at their hearing. They could give Saunders a slap on the hands, and give him a warning. If they suspend him, it won’t be too bad if it’s a short 3-month suspension.
