Billy Joe Saunders has set his targets across the pond for his comeback fight.
The two-weight world champion has an impressive record of 30 wins and just one loss, but he’s been out of the ring since that defeat in 2021.
It was a stoppage loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez – a fractured eye socket from the seventh round rendering the Brit unable to continue.
Over the past two years, many thought he had slipped into retirement, but this year a return has looked more likely than ever. Saunders has confirmed that he’s back in training and that he has reached out to promoters to see what’s what.
In search for an opponent, he has now initiated an exchange with Edgar Berlanga, calling the 26-year-old ‘a bum’ and asking if he would be up for being his comeback fight.
The American-Puerto Rican responded, casting up Saunders’ eye injury from the Canelo fight: “How’s ya eye doing? You can see now?”
Saunders responded, dismissing Berlanga’s much-hyped skills.
“I only need one eye for you pussy boy. You got a record full of bums, so when you want a lesson hit Eddie [Hearn] up. Bring your mum over also because after you will be calling me daddy. Good boy.”
Berlanga signed a deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom back in February – a good coup for the British promoter given the interest from other parties.
He rose to prominence scoring 16 straight knockouts, with four decision wins to follow to make up his 20-0 record.
Hearn praised Berlanga at the time of the deal, branding him a ‘superstar’ and confirming that they were plotting a route for him to become world champion, perhaps against Canelo.
“Edgar wants to be a World champion and the fight he wants is Canelo Alvarez. We are plotting a route for him to land that showdown with Canelo, and Edgar is ready to take on the best of the 168lbs division to prove he is ready to meet the undisputed champion in classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico blockbuster.”
Berlanga is due out this month against Jason Quigley – fans will soon see if the Saunders fight holds any water for later in the year.