Billy Joe Saunders speaks after stoppage loss to Canelo Alvarez

By Boxing News - 05/29/2021 - Comments

By Brad Slotnick: Three weeks after his eighth-round stoppage loss to Canelo Alvarez in their unification match on May 8th, former two-division world champion Billy Joe Saunders spoke to his fans this week.

Surprisingly, the 31-year-old Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) had only a handful of words to say to his loyal boxing fans, who have been waiting to hear about his condition after his right eye surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone.

“To all my fans, thank you very much for all the support over the last few weeks,” said Saunders in the short video. “I have not been in line to answer you all. Many to answer to. But thank you very much, people. God bless you all”.

Saunders is expected to resume his career after his eye fully heals and he’s given medical clearance to fight against. It could take many months before Billy Joe can get back in the ring. Until then, it’s going to take time for him to heal slowly.

Saunders’ promoter Eddie Hearn says he would like to set up a fight between him and Chris Eubank Jr when he resumes his career.

Image: Billy Joe Saunders speaks after stoppage loss to Canelo Alvarez

That’s not an ideal fight to make for Saunders in his return to action because he could get hurt again from the uppercuts that Eubank Jr likes to throw.

What Saunders showed in his loss to Canelo was a flaw in his game in which he bends forward with both arms down by his sides.

It’s bad enough that Saunders is bending forward, but he makes himself even more vulnerable by hanging his arms uselessly by his sides, inviting his opponents to throw uppercuts.

Saunders had gotten away with this bad habit throughout his 12-year professional career until meeting up with Canelo, who immediately saw the flaw in his game and took advantage.

It would be better for Saunders to get a new trainer before returning to the ring and focusing more on fringe level opposition at 168 before tackling the big dogs.

Saunders might be able to preserve his career if he can hire a dietician to help him get his weight down so he can return to the 160-lb division.

Billy Joe is too weak of a puncher to campaign at 168, and he could get hurt again if he fights a top super middleweight like David Benavidez or Caleb Plant.

Good options for Saunders’ next fight:

  • Lennox Allen
  • Alantez Fox
  • John Ryder
  • Gabe Rosado
  • Kamil Szeremeta
  • Hugo Centeno Jr
  • Tureano Johnson

“It will be a very long and emotional time until Billy Joe can be replaced, “he said Saunders’ trainer Mark Tibbs.

“You must look at it like it fell to one of the pound-for-pound greats like it is. Canelo Alvarez and that he put up a great fight before him.

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