Billy Joe Saunders was doing extremely well until he wasn’t as Canelo Alvarez snapped the British boxer of his undefeated streak with a TKO win in the eighth-round to secure Saunders’ WBO super-middleweight championship to come one fight closer to unifying the super-middleweight division.
It looked like BJS was winning the fight on the judges’ scorecard, however, that wasn’t the case as the scorecard after the bout indicated that the judges had it 78-74, 77-75, and 78-74 for Canelo. Needless to say, Joe Saunders showed great improvement after the fourth round, looking better as the round advanced.
Scorecards at the time of the stoppage… #CaneloSaunders pic.twitter.com/yiLRIjW7zm
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) May 9, 2021
However, that has always been Canelo’s strength who likes to feel his opponent in the first few rounds and become more aggressive as the round progresses. Going into the seventh round, BJS looked like he had an edge over the Mexican legend, however, that wasn’t the case as a brutal right uppercut straight to the eye of Billy Joe Saunders left him hugely compromised.
How did Billy Joe Saunders hurt his eye?
It was a brutal right uppercut to the eye which looked to be there all night long. During the first few rounds, Joe Saunders barely missed it on several occasions, however, as Alvarez settled and the round advanced, he started to get more precise. At one point in the bout, it looked like Canelo would finish Billy Joe Saunders. However, the British boxer held his nerve.
The uppercut landed right on the eye 🎯👁 #CaneloSaunders
(via @DAZNBoxing) https://t.co/8Y53bgH6JB
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 9, 2021
Be that as it may, Saunders’ corner stopped the bout after they Saunders complained of not being able to see from his right eye. Boxing fans took to Twitter to criticize Saunders for quitting, however, one cannot deny his performance against Alvarez.
Canelo in the post-fight interview said that he thought he broke his chin. “I think I broke his chin,” Alvarez said in the ring interview. During the broadcast, it was revealed that Billy Joe Saunders was transported to the hospital after suffering what is believed to be a fractured orbital bone.
There’s no denying Canelo’s power and BJS had the best of it today, proving to be one of the toughest challenges for Canelo Alvarez in the recent while. Alvarez has looked unstoppable and will look to unify the super-middleweight title next.