Billy Joe Saunders fined- suspension lifted Thursday
The latest controversy involving British unbeaten super middleweight Billy Joe Saunders has been resolved on Thursday morning. That’s when the British Boxing Board of Control lifted his most latest suspension and fined him £15,000p (U.K.) or $19,000 U.S. dollars, for his comments about domestic violence on a social media post earlier this year.
The BBBOC heard Saunders’ appeal virtually on Wednesday afternoon. Saunders reportedly expressed remorse for his attempts at humor on a video showing a woman being abused.
The board said in a statement Thursday relayed by the London Sun,
“Billy Joe Saunders appeared before Stewards of the Board on Wednesday, 22nd July 2020 due to recent comments made on Social Media.
“Following consideration of Mr. Saunders explanation, the Stewards found Mr. Saunders guilty of misconduct and have fined him £15,000.00p to be donated to charities.
“The suspension of his boxer’s licence has been lifted.”
Saunders, the WBO Super Middleweight Champ, had been suspended indefinitely due to the latest problems with behavior. That’s suspension, in part, cost him any opportunity at a previously scheduled fight with four division World Champion, Canelo Alvarez.
The Canelo – Saunders fight had been tentatively set for May 2nd in Las Vegas, but was postponed initially due to the Covid-19 pandemic shutting down the sport in mid-March.
Alvarez has since moved on to other options for an opponent for an upcoming September fight and may end up battling fellow English fighter Callum Smith, who owns the WBA version of the 168 lb. title.
Saunders is no stranger to trouble with the British boxing Board of Control and other commissions worldwide. He was previously fined £100,000p for another incident in 2018 for making comments on social media about drugs and sex acts.
Saunders also lost his opportunity to fight American unbeaten WBO Middleweight Champion, Demetrius Andrade in 2018, when he flunked a pre-fight PED test weeks prior to the bout and was suspended.
Saunders was stripped of the WBO 160 lb. title that Andrade now owns. Saunders last defended his 168 lb. belt in November with a TKO win in Los Angeles over Marcelo Esteban Coceres.
With the indefinite suspension over, Saunders more than likely will now fight in the U.K., perhaps in a non-title tuneup later this fall.
A veteran broadcaster of over 25 years, T.J. has been a fight fan longer than that! He’s the host of the “Big Fight Weekend” podcast and will go “toe to toe” with anyone who thinks that Marvin Hagler beat Sugar Ray Leonard or that Tyson, Lennox Lewis or Deontay Wilder could have beaten Ali!
