Eddie Hearn has provided an update on the potential return of Billy Joe Saunders, and has touted a potential all British clash that could be worked towards.
Saunders has not boxed his stoppage defeat to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez back in 2021, and many wondered after that loss if fight fans had perhaps seen him compete for the last time.
However, he has been teasing a comeback for the majority of this year and has been slowly getting himself back towards fighting shape.
In a recent interview with IFL TV, Hearn revealed Saunders was targetting a December return and spoke up the possibility of a rematch between Saunders and fellow Brit John Ryder, potentially at a catchweight, next year.
“It was a great fight. Obviously John [Ryder] and Tony [Sims] feel they won that first fight, it was a very close fight.”
“It’s two great British super middleweights. We’ll see what weight Billy comes back at in December, it looks like. But with no belts on the line, does it really matter if they fight at 170 or 171?”
“Who cares? We just want to see a good fight!”
Saunders and Ryder locked horns in a fiercely competitive British middleweight title fight back in 2013 that some felt ‘The Gorilla’ was hard done by not to get the victory.
Ten years on, both men have gone on to have commendable careers and earn life changing money against common foe Alvarez, who Ryder lost a decision to back in May.
Though, by his own admission, Saunders has some way to go before he is ready for top level competition, the prospect of a rematch with Ryder in early 2024 is sure to stoke excitement amongst British fight fans.