Billy Joe Saunders’ antics win the day
WBO World Super Middleweight champion “Superb” Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KO’s) is no stranger to making headlines. Normally when the UK fighter does so, it is generally not for anything positive or productive. Such was the case when he most recently made a huge splash by threatening to abandon his upcoming unification bout. Peeved over the ring size, Saunders promised to leave WBA Super and WBC World Super Middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KO’s) without a May 8 dance partner.
A QUICK FIX
Naturally, this led to international panic as many believed that Superb would make good on his word and trash the fight date. Ultimately this was not the case. Shortly after the uproar began, Superb made a post declaring that the fight was back on and all sides were satisfied. Outside of confirming that the fight was safe, he provided no other pertinent details. So the public was left to wonder if Saunders was appeased or simply backed down, not wanting to lose his massive payday or incur further wrath from the boxing public. In a recent interview with Behind the Gloves, Eddy Reynoso, chief second to Canelo, cleared up any lingering mysteries.
“BJ Saunders has always fought in a ring that was 20 feet long and now he wants a 22 or 24, whatever. The fight is going to happen, we are going to give him what he wants and it’s not a big deal. He can’t run out of the ring, that’s what we have to message him.”
Now that Saunders has the ring dimensions that he so badly craved, we will all now see what he does with it. Granted the extra few feet, will Superb now be able to put on the boxing lesson that he is so determined to? Or, will the angered and acutely focused redhead toss him an appropriate beating for all the public shenanigans? Only time will tell, but luckily for interested boxing fans, this is fight week . The thrilling conclusion is close at hand!
By: Bakari Simpson
