By Allan Fox: Billy Joe Saunders made his first statement on Monday since his knockout loss to Canelo Alvarez and subsequent eye surgery last weekend. Saunders suffered a horrible triple fracture of his right orbital bone that now has his future in the sport uncertain.
WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) stopped WBO 168-lb champion, Saunders, in the eighth round after hurting him with a right uppercut during that round.
After the round ended, Saunders’ trainer Mark Tibbs is said to have halted the fight, but it’s unknown if he told him first that he didn’t want to continue.
The former two-division world champion Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) says he had a broken eye socket and cheekbone in three places.
To answer the question on whether he’ll return or not, Saunders says, “I’ll be back.” If Saunders continues to fight as recklessly in the future as he did against Canelo, his return will be short-lived.
What we don’t know is if Saunders meant that to mean that he’ll be back on his feet or if he means back in the ring. It won’t be easy for Saunders to come back from an injury like the one he sustained, but if anyone can do it, he can.
Billy Joe Saunders statement
“Thanks everyone for msg. Broken eye socket and broken cheekbone in three places. Operation yesterday, all went well. You win some you lose some.
“I didn’t feel out of my league [against Canelo], but got caught with a good shot and couldn’t see and Ben got corner to pull it. Thank you all who watched. I’ll be back. God bless you all.”
Billy Joe was competitive with Canelo through the first six rounds, but he ran out of gas in the seventh round and took some big shots. In the eighth round, Canelo took advantage of Saunders making a mistake by leaning forward and getting nailed by an uppercut from the Mexican star.
You’ve got to give Saunders credit for making it out of the round after he suffered the injury.
In hindsight, Saunders would have been 100% better off if he had boxed Canelo in a stand-up style rather than leaning forward the way he had the entire fight. Saunders was begging Canelo to hit him with an uppercut, and eventually, he got his wish.
Canelo vs. Saunders rematch is unlikely
While some boxing fans are calling for a rematch between Canelo and Billy Joe due to the way the fight ended on an injury, it’s unlikely to happen. Canelo is moving on to try and set up a unification clash with Caleb Plant in September.
What was surprising to some boxing fans is Tyson Fury didn’t stick around and wait on Saunders at the hospital on Sunday during his surgery.
Fury had predicted that Saunders would defeat Canelo Alvarez. But last Sunday, Fury posted a photo of him and former four-division world champion Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner drinking in Miami, Florida.
If Saunders does decide to continue his career, his chances of getting a fight against Gennady Golovkin will have been increased.
Saunders’ name recognition worldwide thanks to Canelo, and Golovkin might show interest in facing him now that he saw him lose to the Mexican star. Other than GGG, Saunders can always get a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr in a domestic affair.
It might not register with US boxing fans, but the UK fans would love to see Eubank Jr and Saunders battle.
Promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t have anything in mind when he spoke about the type of fights he’d like to put Saunders in if he comes back from his loss.
“You fought well @bjsaunders_ hope your eye heals up quickly and you can come back stronger champ,” said Daniel Dubois on Tweeter in wishing Saunders well.