Now 35-years-old, former two-weight world champion, Billy Joe Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs), has sensationally revealed that he is returning to boxing over four years after his last fight.
The former WBO middle and super-middleweight champion announced, “My biggest goal would be to become a three-weight world champion, but let’s just get back to fighting and then see where we are.”
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that the news is most certainly serious, revealing they have already met to discuss possibilities, “He came to see me a couple of weeks ago and we had a chat. We will see what happens.”
Saunders was last seen in a ring in Texas, U.S. on May 8, losing his first and only fight to Canelo via eighth-round retirement following a facial injury sustained from a punch.
Despite defeat, the Brit received a career-high $8 million payday, which soon saw him hang up his gloves, seemingly satisfied with all achievements and more than healthy bank balance.
His comeback will be up at light-heavyweight, where fellow Brits Callum Smith, Joshua Buatsi, Anthony Yarde, Zach Parker, Craig Richards, and Willy Hutchinson all operate.
Of course, the fight that everyone wants to see would be Billy Joe Saunders vs Chris Eubank Jr rematch, after the pair delivered an entertaining battle back in 2014. Saunders outboxed and outsmarted the Brighton boxer for most of the contest, until Eubank Jr rallied back strongly to make it split decision on the cards. The rivals have continued their animosity ever since.
Saunders recently tried to storm Eubank’s dressing room in last month’s fight with Conor Benn to goad and disrupt the fighter shortly before his ringwalk.
“Superb” Saunders’ boxing career is summed up by his alias, both in amateur and pro. In 2007 and 2008, the Team GB star won gold at the EU Championships twice and the Commonwealth Championships. The Olympian competed at Beijing 2008, but was eliminated in the second round. He won all of his first 49 amateur bouts at senior level and spent many years representing England.
As a pro, he took the traditional route, impressively winning every single title from Southern Area up to World.
He claimed the Southern Area middleweight belt in 2011, followed by Commonwealth, British, European, then he became world champion in 2015 by defeating Andy Lee.
He defended the WBO belt three times before moving up to capture the super-middleweight version in 2019.
A brace of successful defences led Saunders to a super-fight with Mexican megastar Canelo, which resulted in his first-ever defeat. Over his eight world title fights, he won seven, and only lost one.
Saunders can also boast impressive scalps over Chris Eubank Jr, Andy Lee, Martin Murray, David Lemieux, and many more.
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