Boxing

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS has finally had his crack at supremacy CONFIRMED with a May 8 showdown against pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez.
The slick southpaw has long called to face Canelo or his former middleweight rival Gennady Golovkin.

How Canelo and Billy Joe Saunders compare

And after Alvarez retained his WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine super-middleweight belts against Avni Yildirim, the unification was announced.
Saunders will also put his WBO title on the line in exchange for a chance to become only the second man after Floyd Mayweather to beat Canelo.
Here SunSport details how they compare.
Canelo Alvarez
The Mexican superstar turned pro at just 15 in his homeland in 2005, but he made his US debut 23 fights and three years later.

Six years after turning over, Canelo became WBC light-middleweight champion beating Ricky Hatton’s brother Matthew.
He won the WBA belt too in 2013 against Austin Trout, which set him up with a blockbuster pay-per-view with Mayweather.
But Canelo, only 23 at the time, was handed a humbling boxing lesson by master tactician Mayweather over 12 rounds.
After that defeat, Alvarez won one more title at light-middle, against Liam Smith, before finally moving to middleweight for Golovkin.

Canelo was handed his only defeat in 2013 against Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty – Contributor
The pair had two thrillers, starting with their draw in 2017, before Canelo won the rematch and unified belts a year later.
Afterwards, he moved up to super-middle, winning the WBA’s secondary ‘Regular’ belt, before defending his middleweight crown against Danny Jacobs.
Canelo in 2019 moved up as high as light-heavyweight and KO’d Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title.
To ensure he was a full-fledged four-division champ, Alvarez challenged Smith for the WBA title last year, winning a shutout on the cards.
Since Canelo’s sole defeat, by Mayweather, he has become a defensive maestro and moving up weights has only increased his punching power.

Canelo knocked out Avni Yildirim to set up a unification against Billy Joe SaundersCredit: EPA

Billy Joe Saunders
Saunders was a standout amateur, representing England and Britain at several international tournaments, but he was beaten in round two of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The same year, BJS turned pro at middleweight and picked up the Commonwealth and British title by 2012.
His first major test came in 2014, in a European title fight against domestic rival Chris Eubank Jr.
Saunders, who claimed to have had just a six-week training camp, started fast but Eubank Jr came on strong in the second half.
BJS edged a split-decision, which only heightened the pair’s feud, with a rematch still talked about to this day.

Chris Eubank Jr was beaten by split-decision in 2013 by Billy Joe SaundersCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Saunders became world champion for the first time in 2015, beating Andy Lee to win the WBO belt.
He made three defences – including a career-best win against David Lemieux in 2017 – before moving up in weight.
Saunders then became a two-division champ after winning the WBO super-middle crown against  Shefat Isufi in 2019.
Since then, the Brit has fought just twice, most recently sending Martin Murray into retirement in December.
Despite Saunders’ tricky style, unbeaten record and name recognition, the biggest threat to his progression is inactivity, failing to fight more than twice in a year since 2013.

Billy Joe Saunders is the current WBO super-middleweight championCredit: Route One Ltd

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CANELO ALVAREZ’S convincing win over Avni Yildirim has forced the WBC to look into changing the process of selecting mandatory challengers.
Yildirim was pulled out by his trainer Joel Diaz before round four after the Turk was dropped and beaten into submission.

Canelo Alvarez beat Avni Yildirim in four roundsCredit: EPA

Canelo Alvarez was making a WBC mandatory defenceCredit: EPA

But it has caused the WBC to now re-assess the structure of their rankings and challengers following Canelo’s comfortable and one-sided victory.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Boxing Social: “I’m sorry for Avni. The paper sometimes doesn’t reflect the actions, and it was very unfortunate.
“We had great expectations, and it’s a matter where we [WBC] need to look into the process that is not working in some roads.
“Definitely, there are things that we have to go back and look at what is happening and how things evolve.

“As I say, he [Canelo] was tremendously successful, he was in great shape, and that stage should have been for a much greater fight.”
After Canelo, 30, beat Callum Smith, also 30, he was given 90 days by the WBC to defend his belt against Yildirim.
But the 29-year-old, who was knocked out by Chris Eubank Jr in 2017, was coming off a loss to Anthony Dirrell, 36, and had not fought in two years.
Yildirim was instated as mandatory due to the controversial ending of his loss to Dirrell, where he lost on the cards following a cut from an accidental head clash.

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Despite calls for a rematch, David Benavidez went on to win the title from Dirrell, with Yildirim instead settling for a No1 contender spot.
Canelo later won the vacant belt after Benavidez, 24, was stripped having failed to make weight to face Roamer Alexis Angulo.
Four-weight champion Alvarez is now scheduled to fight WBO title holder Billy Joe Saunders, 31, in a May unification.
Sulaiman said: “Tremendous, he’s got a sight in unifying the whole division.
“That’s a process in how it begins, and we can see a very active year, and hopefully it’ll continue to be like that for Canelo and boxing.
“A tremendous match, it’s going to be a sensational fight.”

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER was snapped riding through Miami on a custom bike after his romantic birthday break.
The boxing legend recently celebrated his 44th in style, with a series of amazing parties in Florida.

Floyd Mayweather was snapped riding through MiamiCredit: The Mega Agency

Floyd Mayweather’s bike had his ‘The Best Ever’ branding on itCredit: The Mega Agency

‘TBE’ – for The Best Ever – featured on the front of the bikeCredit: The Mega Agency

Floyd Mayweather recently celebrated his 44th in styleCredit: The Mega Agency

Mayweather then enjoyed a Caribbean getaway with his partner, British stripper Anna Monroe.
But he’s since returned to the US, and was snapped going for a ride with pals on the streets of LA.
Mayweather’s custom bike featured ‘The Best Ever’ branding – a nod to his self-proclaimed nickname.
During his trip to the Caribbean, Monroe uploaded a rare picture of the two together, appearing to confirm their relationship, as she wished him a happy birthday.

She captioned the post: “Happiest birthday to you, my love. More life, more blessings, and more LOVE. Beyond grateful for you.”
Monroe worked at Mayweather’s ‘Girl Collection’ strip club, where they are believed to have met.
Despite the retired boxer’s partying, holidaying and socialising, he is set to return to the ring.
Mayweather was due to face Logan Paul in an exhibition bout on February 20, but it was postponed to allow fans to attend.

Still, the American all-time great admitted before his birthday bash that he has not yet started training.

Anna Monroe shared a rare picture alongside Floyd MayweatherCredit: Instagram

Floyd Mayweather enjoyed a Caribbean getaway with his partner
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Mayweather officially retired in 2017, after sealing a perfect 50-0 record having beaten UFC star Conor McGregor in ten rounds.
He did return a year later, wiping out featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in round one of their exhibition.
But he will make a comeback for a similar spectacle against YouTube sensation Paul.
American vlogger Paul, 25, has boxed only twice before, both against online rival KSI.

The first time they drew in a white collar bout in England before turning pro for their rematch in November 2019.
KSI, 27, ended up winning by split-decision after a two point deduction cost Paul the result.
Paul’s brother Jake has also transitioned from social media phenomenon to fighter, with two KOs in as many fights since turning over in 2020.
Jake, 24, faces ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, on April 17, but was called out by Mayweather for a fight afterwards if he wins.

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LOGAN PAUL claimed he is ‘beating up legitimate undefeated boxers’ in sparring and says his ring is ‘covered in f***ing blood’.
The YouTuber is training to face boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition bout this year.

Logan Paul claimed he is ‘beating up legitimate undefeated boxers’ in sparring

The YouTuber is training to face boxing legend Floyd Mayweather

Paul is preparing for the fight in his Los Angeles home, where he has a gym built on site with a ring outdoors.
The 25-year-old has been training constantly since his first ever boxing match in 2018 and warned he is leaving experienced sparring partners bloodied and shocked.
Paul said on his podcast: “We really do this s***. We really do this s***, it’s all we do, everyday for the past three years.
“Trained this morning, trained yesterday, trained the day before, eating healthy, going to sleep at the right time – it’s all we f***ing do.

“If I was walking in there, a complete noob, my first year of boxing, my second year of boxing even, then like OK, maybe a little anxious.
“I don’t know how long it takes to finally get good as something but I’m there.
“We’re beating up legitimate boxers, legitimate professional, undefeated boxers in my backyard.
“Go look at the canvas out there dawg, it’s covered in f***ing blood, none of it’s mine.”

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Mayweather, 44, officially retired in 2017, after sealing a perfect 50-0 record having beaten UFC star Conor McGregor in ten rounds.
He did return a year later, wiping out featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in round one of their exhibition.
It was the only time the unbeaten all-time great ever boxed outside of the US and his first away from Las Vegas since 2005.
But he will make a comeback for a similar spectacle against internet sensation Paul.
American vlogger Paul has boxed only twice before, both against online rival KSI.
The first time they drew in a white collar bout in England before turning pro for their rematch in November 2019.
KSI, 27, ended up winning by split-decision after a two point deduction cost Paul the result.
Mayweather recently revealed his bout with Paul, set for February 20, was postponed as they want a live crowd to be in attendance.

KSI beat YouTube rival Logan Paul in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Floyd Mayweather beat Tenshin Nasukawa in a 2018 exhibitionCredit: AFP
The American icon named the Las Vegas Raiders’ new NFL stadium as a potential host, as it can hold up to 80,000 fight fans.
US broadcasters Showtime are now also set to televise the fight, extending their history with Mayweather.
He signed a six-fight deal worth a then record £150million in 2013, and his last seven wins all came on the CBS-owned network.
Mayweather sold NINE MILLION pay-per-views combined for his two fights against Manny Pacquiao, 42, and McGregor, 32.
But Paul is confident their boxing extravaganza will match those records with the help of Mayweather’s long-time advisor Al Haymon.
He said: “I think I can say, I believe Al Haymon just went on Showtime and announced that it’ll be on Showtime.
“Al Haymon’s now involved. We’re going to do it right at the highest level of any massive, massive boxing event. Let’s get it.”

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LOGAN PAUL says his fight against Floyd Mayweather will be a ‘massive boxing event’ and claims it will be broadcast on American TV giant Showtime.
The YouTuber turned boxer was initially set to face 50-0 legend Mayweather in an exhibition on February 20, but those plans were then put on hold.

Paul’s first professional boxing contest came in defeat back in 2019Credit: Getty – Contributor

And now Paul has claimed that famed manager/advisor Al Haymon has come on board to help stage the event.
Speaking on his podcast IMPAULSIVE, he said: “I think I can say, I believe Al Haymon just went on Showtime and announced that it’ll be on Showtime.
“Al Haymon’s now involved. We’re going to do it right at the highest level of any massive, massive boxing event. Let’s get it.”
Paul also addressed those who are suggesting he may be afraid of Mayweather, who retired with a perfect record in 2017.

“People are asking me if I’m like scared. No, no I’m not scared,” he added.
“The feelings I’m getting right now are just excitement.
“I’m excited, I’m blessed to have this opportunity and I think we’re gonna wow a lot of people.
“I just don’t believe I’m gonna get in there and people are gonna see what they expect to see.”

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How Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul compare ahead of their fight
Haymon, who worked closely with Mayweather during his stellar career, has not commented on Paul’s claims.
Paul made his professional boxing debut in November 2019 but lost a split decision to fellow internet sensation KSI.
Meanwhile, his brother Jake, who is facing MMA fighter Ben Askren in April, has been trying to goad UFC superstar Conor McGregor into a dust-up.

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