Billy Joe Saunders has promised fans that he will return to the boxing ring this year.
It was on this date back in 2021 that he appeared in Arlington’s AT&T stadium to do battle with Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez – a bout in which he was performing well until a fractured eye socket in the seventh gave him his first career defeat.
Canelo took the WBO super middleweight title to add to his collection, and would beat Caleb Plant in his next outing to go undisputed.
For Saunders, it was two years inactivity. He’s flirted with a return before now, but not confirmed anything solid. That changed on the anniversary of the Canelo fight. He took to Instagram to tell fans he ‘will be back this year.’
‼️@BJSaunders_ has announced, via his Instagram story, that he will return to the ring this year.
Today marks exactly two years since his last outing where he was defeated by Canelo Alvarez. #BillyJoeSaunders#Boxingpic.twitter.com/k9hA0HKPj7
— Boxing Social (@boxing_social) May 8, 2023
Speaking to IFL TV back in February, Saunders said:
“I was meant to fly away two weeks ago to start a little bit of training … when you ain’t got a date it’s hard. But I lost my nan two weeks ago now, she gets buried next week, and then I’m flying away then, just poodle around, drop some weight, look at a few names and opponents, and see where we go.”
There are plenty of interesting fights out there for him. Domestic spectacles like the winner of Liam Smith versus Chris Eubank Jr, or Stateside with Demetrius Andrade. The 30-1 southpaw is currently a promotional free agent.
He boasts wins over the likes of Eubank, Andy Lee, John Ryder and David Lemieux. At 33-years-old, there’s plenty of time to make moves to become a two-time world champion.