---
title: "Billy Joe Saunders Says There Is A Key Difference Between Himself And Dubois ‘Quitting’"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/billy-joe-saunders-on-dubois-quitting/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tom Eaton"
section: "News"
published: "2023-10-08T11:17:49Z"
modified: "2023-10-08T11:17:49Z"
---

# Billy Joe Saunders Says There Is A Key Difference Between Himself And Dubois ‘Quitting’

Former two-division world champion, Billy Joe Saunders, has defended his criticism of Daniel Dubois for ‘quitting’ against Oleksandr Usyk, with some labelling him a hypocrite after staying on his stool in his only career defeat against Saul Canelo Alvarez.

Saunders retired in between the eighth and ninth round against Canelo in Texas after [suffering a broken orbital bone](https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/893045/billy-joe-saunders-graphically-canelo-alvarez-eye/). The former middleweight and super-middleweight champion had previously ‘had a pop’ at Dubois, who took a knee against both Joe Joyce, also from an eye injury.

In an [interview on the Up Front podcast](https://youtu.be/35Hs6CCYK20?si=jzP-xfPkJB3m9hOy), Saunders explained how his trainers would not let him continue, as opposed to Dubois who appeared to give up of his own accord.

> “When I went back to the corner, Ben \[Davison\] said ‘look your eye has gone…’ and I said ‘no, I am alright, I will switch orthodox’ and Mark Tibbs went ‘one more round I am going to give you’.”
>
> “I remember Ben grabbing me and Ben looked at Mark and went ‘Billy Joe, your eye is gone, if we stop it now we can get a rematch. I am not letting you do it \[go out for another round\]’.”
>
> “I had a pop at Daniel Dubois, but there is a difference. I could have easily went onto one knee there and not got up. I can honestly say, I did have a pop at him and I did put myself into that position \[for criticism\], but knowing what I know in the corner, when people slag you off, I think people can have their opinion, my team and that know what is what.”

Saunders is now eyeing a comeback after two-and-a-half years away from the ring, [pencilling in a fight date before the end of the year.](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/billy-joe-saunders-comeback-fights-left/)