Former two-time WBO champ Billy Joe Saunders has not fought for over three years, his final battle seeing him have to stay on his stool after eight rounds in opposition to Canelo Alvarez, Saunder’s eye in a nasty state. It’s no secret the proficient southpaw picked up a giant payday for the battle, and it’s no secret that BJS piled on a considerable quantity of weight as he spent the cash.
However now, at age 35, Saunders says he’s coming again, with a return battle with disliked British rival Chris Eubank Junior an actual risk. Saunders, who spoke with Speak Sport, went so far as to say that, relating to a second battle between himself and Eubank Jr, “in case you take out the heavyweights and the home British stage, it don’t get a lot larger than myself and Eubank.”
However is Saunders proper? Is there sill something like main fan consideration in a rematch? The 2 fought means again in November of 2014, with Saunders successful by way of break up choice, retaining his European, British and Commonwealth middleweight titles. The real dislike between the 2 would have made a rematch very attention-grabbing in, say, 2015 or 2016. However now, after so lengthy, is there any juice left on this rivalry?
Eubank Jr, faces Kamil Szeremeta in a considerably disappointing match up on the massive October 12 invoice in Saudi Arabia, and there’s a very actual hazard Eubank, now aged 34 (35 on September 18) shall be remembered greatest as a fighter who talked concerning the large fights, not as a person who truly received them. Eubank, 33-3(24) has boxed simply 5 occasions over the past 5 years, and his greatest win stays his 2019 choice over a light James DeGale.
Saunders, although, says we followers would get enthusiastic about seeing and would get pleasure from a return battle between he and Eubank Jr.
“I’ll be trustworthy, I used to be in heavy talks with Eubank’s supervisor a number of weeks in the past. Heavy talks,” Saunders, 30-1(14) stated. “I clearly must get myself motivated to get a comeback battle after which construct it into that large battle. Clearly it’s additionally for the followers to see as a result of, it don’t get a lot larger than myself and Eubank. It’s no secret that I don’t like me on a private word and doesn’t like me on a private word. We don’t actually get on. And I believe the followers will benefit from the battle and benefit from the build-up.”
Possibly. However there are larger, way more attention-grabbing fights to make – Eubank in opposition to Ben Whitaker, for instance (does Eubank need it, although?). Whereas how a lot has Saunders bought left at this stage and may he truly come again? Three years out is a very long time in boxing. Additionally, at what weight would a rematch happen? Might BJS presumably make 160, and even 168 now?
