BILLY JOE SAUNDERS has retained his WBO super-middleweight crown after a dominating win over Martin Murray at Wembley Arena.
Follow all the reaction with our live blog below…
Live results
Billy Joe Saunders BEATS Martin Murray (points – unanimous decision)
James Tennyson BEATS Josh O’Reilly (TKO 1st round)
Shannon Courtenay BEATS Dorota Norek (TKO 7th round)
Donte Dixon BEATS Angelo Dragone (points)
Lerrone Richards BEATS Timo Laine (points)
Lewis Edmondson BEATS John Telford (TKO 3rd round)
GRIEVING Billy Joe Saunders edged Martin Murray toward retirement with another defence of his WBO super-middleweight title.
The 31-year-old champ lost uncle Tom Beaney in the build-up to the all-English Wembley Arena clash and had his name emblazoned on his kit.
NINTCHDBPICT000623874166Credit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
And he did him proud with the 30th win of his career – showing moments of supreme skill and dogged heart – to see off the 38-year-old warhorse, who now has five failed world title bids on his impressive CV.
The southpaw was too fresh, slick and accurate for the St Helens hard man but not powerful enough to stop the respected veteran.
The three judges got to watch a masterclass from Saunders, scoring it 120-109, 120-109 and 118-110 and he can now return to chasing down career-defining fights with Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
He said: “I have been out for over a year and it was like boxing in a cemetery because I like to box for a crowd.
“I tried to set a rhythm but he is a clever old fox so I can not shout people’s names out on that performance.”
Both men prodded and poked with their jabs in the opener, a straight left hand to Murray’s body was probably the best shot of the round from Saunders. Murray landed a right hand in the second but it only thumped into the Hatfields man’s chest.
NINTCHDBPICT000623871622Credit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
Saunders threw more combinations in his fluorescent yellow gloves but the veteran’s guard was high and tight and caught most of them. By the third it was clear Murray was looking to break Saunders’ body, especially off of Saunders’ southpaw jab.
But Saunders twice landed a lead right uppercut that had his few fans clapping in the darkness of the arena.
Murray was down in the fourth, he was definitely hurt after two one-twos, but referee Phil Edwards called it a slip. Saunders was sliding up the gears and slashing through Murray’s defence with laser-like blows.
Saunders hadn’t enjoyed a high-level opponent or performance since bamboozling David Lemieux in 2017 but he didn’t show a shred of ring rust.
It was becoming positively one-sided in the fifth when Murray’s big heart and hard chin were the only things keeping him in it.
Both warring Brits were warned for head butting and trash talking in the sixth and Murray did look alive with a right-hook counter that scored and a jab at the start of the seventh jutted Saunders’ head back
NINTCHDBPICT000623873261Credit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd
Trainer Mark Tibbs told Saunders to take the tenth off, after some gruelling clashes and clinches but he landed with a brilliant head-to-body combination.
Saunders had gone three years without an elite opponent and performance but he showed no ringrust as Murray’s resilience provided the perfect platform to showcase his punches and movement.
The proud Traveller won the fight with a piston-like jab and a screw-shot uppercut, taking every single round on two of the cards.
Gutted Murray admitted he lost to a better man and refused to confirm his retirement as he looked forward to racing home to his family.
MURRAY HAS HIS SAY
Murray says he was ‘beat by the better man’ and describes Saunders as a ‘quality fighter’.
He goes on to say he came out of retirement two years ago as he knew he would get one more title shot.
Murray says he wants to spend time with his family now, and will make a retirement decision afterwards.
BIG HEARNER
Promoter Eddie Hearn says it was a ‘great performance’.
He reveals Saunders was a day away from announcing a fight with Canelo coronavirus forced it to fall by the wayside.
Hearn says BJS has to fight an elite opponent to truly show off his talent.
AND STILL
Saunders describes Murray as a ‘cunning old fox’ and credits his defence.
The unbeaten champion admits he needed the rounds going into the New Year having had a year off.
Saunders wants to stay in the gym and keep himself prepared and wants the ‘big names’ like Canelo, Callum Smith and Demetrius Andrade.
SAUNDERS WINS
Judges score the bout 120-109 (x2) and 118-110 with Saunders retaining his title by unanimous decision.
He can now look ahead to the mega-fight between Canelo and Callum Smith this month.
Facing the winner would promise a WBO and WBA unification bout…
ALL OVER
After 12, fairly one-sided rounds, Saunders and Murray go to the scorecards.
BJS in charge throughout but didn’t really look to close the show – possibly wanted to get the rounds in.
He should retain his WBO super-middleweight title wide on the scorecards.
ROUND 12
The 12th and final round here – and it’s been all Billy Joe Saunders here.
Saunders enjoying the last stanza, hands down, walking forward and letting his hands go.
Murray caught in the corner again, defends well but dominant work from the champion.
ROUND 11
Saunders clips Murray with a one-two. Just misses with a massive left uppercut.
Beautiful left body shot lands for the champion, then snaps Murray’s head back with a short shot on the inside.
Murray looking to tie BJS up now, just to avoid the speed coming his way.
ROUND TEN
Saunders slips to the outside and lands with a beautiful lead uppercut – a shot that has repeatedly worked this fight.
Combination to head and body lands for BJS – slick stuff here.
Saunders finishes the round on top – but hasn’t yet stunned Murray.
ROUND NINE
Saunders is showing off really educated pressure here, edging forward with little step and letting his left hand go.
Murray is busier than was the case in earlier rounds but nothing worrying the champ.
Saunders traps Murray into the corner, lands some nice body shots but the challenger covering up well.
ROUND EIGHT
Lovely sweeping uppercut lands near the end of the bell.
Murray coming forward better in that round, looking to work the body but it puts him in position to be countered walking onto a shot.
Into round nine we go…
ROUND EIGHT
Saunders throws three consecutive one-two combinations.
Murray coming forward more and the pair come to blows on the inside.
Saunders lands a low blow and Murray takes his time to recover.
ROUND SEVEN
Saunders catches Murray with a slick one-two down the middle.
Murray responds with his own – but it’s proven a rarity throughout the opening half.
Right hook followed by a left lands for BJS, but the round finishes with a bit of clinching and holding – Saunders warned he could have a point taken!
ROUND SIX
Saunders dances around the ring, comes into range and fires off a combination.
Murray’s defence is smart and tight, but he’s struggling to get any sort of offence going.
Few sneaky body shots lands for Murray, but BJS gets back to boxing at range and scores.
ROUND FIVE
Big shots land with Murray on the ropes, Saunders is hitting hard here.
BJS takes his foot off the gas a bit as he looked to have Murray hurt in the opening stages.
Saunders lets his hands go towards the end of the round, all the challenger can do it cover up.
ROUND FOUR
Saunders hammers home some shots with Murray on the ropes.
The challenger tries to hold but finds himself on the floor – ref calls no knockdown.
Best round for Saunders, completely on top.
ROUND FOUR
Saunders’ jab piercing through Murray’s guard – been the difference so far.
Big one-two lands down the middle, speed and accuracy on show for the champion.
Murray is coming forward more but BJS is proving the on top fighter.
ROUND THREE
Saunders lets his hands go but Murray blocks them.
Another big uppercut through the middle lands for the champion.
Murray comes forward towards the end of the round but BJS fires back, in control here.
ROUND THREE
Big left uppercut finds home for Saunders, Murray had landed some body shots before that.
BJS with the best punch of the fight so far…
ROUND TWO
Saunders is getting off his jab well early. Shooting the odd left hand down to the torso.
Murray looks one step behind BJS, can’t catch or counter what’s coming at him.
Saunders lets his hands go and moves off to the side, eye-catching stuff.
ROUND ONE
Saunders starts on the front foot, stabbing the southpaw jab out to head and body.
Little left to the body lands for BJS.
Murray struggling to get anything off here, Saunders lets his hands go showing off quick speed.
ROUND ONE
Here we go!
Murray has it all to do here – surely his last chance to end out his career with a world title.
THE CHAMP IS HERE
Billy Joe Saunders now making his way to the ring.
He has not fought since last November on the undercard of KSI’s win over Logan Paul.
BJS says he’ll get past Martin Murray and look to face the winner between Callum Smith and Canelo Alvarez.
UP NEXT
Martin Murray gets his FIFTH world title shot now.
He is walking to the ring ahead of his WBO super-middleweight title fight.
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