Tag: Alvarez vs Saunders

Canelo Alvarez said that Billy Joe Saunders had no choice but to remain on his stool after the eighth round Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The super middleweight tilteholders were engaged in a competitive fight when Alvarez injured Saunders’ right eye socket with a right uppercut in Round 8, which prompted the British fighter’s trainer to stop the fight before the start of Round 9.

Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) said he wasn’t surprised by that decision.

“It’s hard because I saw … he broke his cheek bone,” the Mexican star said through a translator at the post-fight news conference. “I went back to the corner and told [trainer] Eddy [Reynoso] that I didn’t think he could continue. When you break your cheek bone, you risk your life. You can’t continue that way.”

Saunders’ trainer, Mark Tibbs, said that his fighter’s face was “caved in” and he couldn’t see properly out of the eye, which made his decision an easy one even though Saunders had been boxing well before he was injured.

Tibbs was interviewed by Behind the Gloves.

“His eye socket was caved in and he couldn’t see,” he said. “I didn’t get the response I wanted from him. Tough business, this business. It was frustrating, really, because I felt he was growing into it.”

“… I love Billy Joe like a brother. I know his mum, I know his ad. I’ve known him for a long while. We’ll live to fight another day.”

Tibbs made it clear that decision to end the fight was his, not Saunders’.

“He never said, ‘No, that’s it.’ He left it to me,” he said. “… He took it well. He was in pain. The eye socket was gone. He was in pain. He gave it his best shot. He got injured, his leading eye, against the pound-for-pound great. He’s done himself proud.”

Alvarez was leading on all three scorecards after eight rounds, 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75. Boxing Junkie also had Alvarez leading 78-74, six rounds to two. Some boxing experts had Saunders ahead at the time the fight was stopped.

Alvarez, who entered the fight as the WBA and WBC titleholder, added Saunders’ WBO belt to his collection. He wants to fight IBF champ Caleb Plant next in an attempt to win all four major titles.

[lawrence-related id=20110,20099,20102,20096]

 

Canelo Alvarez said that Billy Joe Saunders had no choice but to remain on his stool after the eighth round Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The super middleweight tilteholders were engaged in a competitive fight when Alvarez injured Saunders’ right eye socket with a right uppercut in Round 8, which prompted the British fighter’s trainer to stop the fight before the start of Round 9.

Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) said he wasn’t surprised by that decision.

“It’s hard because I saw … he broke his cheek bone,” the Mexican star said through a translator at the post-fight news conference. “I went back to the corner and told [trainer] Eddy [Reynoso] that I didn’t think he could continue. When you break your cheek bone, you risk your life. You can’t continue that way.”

Saunders’ trainer, Mark Tibbs, said that his fighter’s face was “caved in” and he couldn’t see properly out of the eye, which made his decision an easy one even though Saunders had been boxing well before he was injured.

Tibbs was interviewed by Behind the Gloves.

“His eye socket was caved in and he couldn’t see,” he said. “I didn’t get the response I wanted from him. Tough business, this business. It was frustrating, really, because I felt he was growing into it.”

“… I love Billy Joe like a brother. I know his mum, I know his ad. I’ve known him for a long while. We’ll live to fight another day.”

Tibbs made it clear that decision to end the fight was his, not Saunders’.

“He never said, ‘No, that’s it.’ He left it to me,” he said. “… He took it well. He was in pain. The eye socket was gone. He was in pain. He gave it his best shot. He got injured, his leading eye, against the pound-for-pound great. He’s done himself proud.”

Alvarez was leading on all three scorecards after eight rounds, 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75. Boxing Junkie also had Alvarez leading 78-74, six rounds to two. Some boxing experts had Saunders ahead at the time the fight was stopped.

Alvarez, who entered the fight as the WBA and WBC titleholder, added Saunders’ WBO belt to his collection. He wants to fight IBF champ Caleb Plant next in an attempt to win all four major titles.

[lawrence-related id=20110,20099,20102,20096]

 

More-competitive fight than expected. Familiar result.

Billy Joe Saunders frustrated Canelo Alvarez for much of their title-unification fight Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, raising the possibility of what would have been a monumental upset.

Then, in a moment, the fight was effectively over. Alvarez injured Saunders’ eye with a right uppercut in Round 8 and the Brit, unable to continue, didn’t come out for Round 9.

Thus, Alvarez claimed three of the four major super middleweight titles, which means Caleb Plant – who owns the fourth – could be next.

“I said the fight was going to develop in the seventh, eighth round and that’s what happened,” Alvarez said through a translator. “It wasn’t as difficult as I expected. That’s because my preparation was good. And I improve every day.

“… I started getting adjusted real quick. I knew this was going to be the final outcome.”

A reported 73,126 filled the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium, which is a record for an indoor venue. However, the magnitude of the event didn’t seem to faze Saunders.

The now-former WBO 168-pound titleholder boxed with confidence from the outset, flicking his right jab, landing more and more left hands as the fight went on and using his feet to avoid many of Alvarez’s punches.

The problem for Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) is that he couldn’t avoid them all. Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) landed the cleaner, harder shots, particularly to the body. Saunders shook his head multiple times, an indication that he wasn’t hurt, but the punches were heavy.

That’s why all three judges had the Mexican star leading after eight rounds, 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75. Boxing Junkie also had it 78-74, six rounds to two in favor of Alvarez.

Here’s the thing, though: 7½ rounds into the fight Saunders was essentially fighting on even terms with arguably the No. 1 boxer in the world. He was definitely in the fight at that point.

Then everything changed. The right uppercut landed on Saunders’ right eye, which swelled up immediately. He survived the rest of Round 8 – mostly by moving and holding – but he clearly was hurt.

He told his trainer, Mark Tibbs, that he couldn’t see and Tibbs instructed referee Mark Calo-oy to stop the fight. Saunders’ right orbital bone might’ve been broken.

“The truth is I knew it,” Alvarez said. “I think I broke his cheek. I knew he wasn’t going to come out. I told [trainer] Eddy [Reynoso], he’s not coming out because I broke his cheek. And that was it.”

Alvarez, who know holds the WBA, WBC and WBO belts, has stated that his goal is to become undisputed 168-pound champion. Now, for that to happen, he must fight and beat IBF champ Caleb Plant in September.

Plant has said he also wants the fight, which is half the battle. However, he and Alvarez are aligned with competing outlets. Plant is with Premier Boxing Champions, Alvarez with DAZN.

Still, he and promoter Eddie Hearn were optimistic after the fight.

“That’s the plan. I’m coming, my friend,” Alvarez said, speaking directly to Plant. “… I hope it can be made easily, to give the fans that fight, and become the first [undisputed] Mexican champion in history.”

Said Hearn: “Ultimately, Canelo Alvarez will fight absolutely anybody. You know who he wants to fight, he’s told me who he wants to fight, Caleb Plant. … That’s the fight that must happen for boxing, the undisputed championship at 168 pounds. And it’s the must-make fight next.

“What’s Caleb Plant going to do?”

More-competitive fight than expected. Familiar result.

Billy Joe Saunders frustrated Canelo Alvarez for much of their title-unification fight Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, raising the possibility of what would have been a monumental upset.

Then, in a moment, the fight was effectively over. Alvarez injured Saunders’ eye with a right uppercut in Round 8 and the Brit, unable to continue, didn’t come out for Round 9.

Thus, Alvarez claimed three of the four major super middleweight titles, which means Caleb Plant – who owns the fourth – could be next.

“I said the fight was going to develop in the seventh, eighth round and that’s what happened,” Alvarez said through a translator. “It wasn’t as difficult as I expected. That’s because my preparation was good. And I improve every day.

“… I started getting adjusted real quick. I knew this was going to be the final outcome.”

A reported 73,126 filled the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium, which is a record for an indoor venue. However, the magnitude of the event didn’t seem to faze Saunders.

The now-former WBO 168-pound titleholder boxed with confidence from the outset, flicking his right jab, landing more and more left hands as the fight went on and using his feet to avoid many of Alvarez’s punches.

The problem for Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) is that he couldn’t avoid them all. Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) landed the cleaner, harder shots, particularly to the body. Saunders shook his head multiple times, an indication that he wasn’t hurt, but the punches were heavy.

That’s why all three judges had the Mexican star leading after eight rounds, 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75. Boxing Junkie also had it 78-74, six rounds to two in favor of Alvarez.

Here’s the thing, though: 7½ rounds into the fight Saunders was essentially fighting on even terms with arguably the No. 1 boxer in the world. He was definitely in the fight at that point.

Then everything changed. The right uppercut landed on Saunders’ right eye, which swelled up immediately. He survived the rest of Round 8 – mostly by moving and holding – but he clearly was hurt.

He told his trainer, Mark Tibbs, that he couldn’t see and Tibbs instructed referee Mark Calo-oy to stop the fight. Saunders’ right orbital bone might’ve been broken.

“The truth is I knew it,” Alvarez said. “I think I broke his cheek. I knew he wasn’t going to come out. I told [trainer] Eddy [Reynoso], he’s not coming out because I broke his cheek. And that was it.”

Alvarez, who know holds the WBA, WBC and WBO belts, has stated that his goal is to become undisputed 168-pound champion. Now, for that to happen, he must fight and beat IBF champ Caleb Plant in September.

Plant has said he also wants the fight, which is half the battle. However, he and Alvarez are aligned with competing outlets. Plant is with Premier Boxing Champions, Alvarez with DAZN.

Still, he and promoter Eddie Hearn were optimistic after the fight.

“That’s the plan. I’m coming, my friend,” Alvarez said, speaking directly to Plant. “… I hope it can be made easily, to give the fans that fight, and become the first [undisputed] Mexican champion in history.”

Said Hearn: “Ultimately, Canelo Alvarez will fight absolutely anybody. You know who he wants to fight, he’s told me who he wants to fight, Caleb Plant. … That’s the fight that must happen for boxing, the undisputed championship at 168 pounds. And it’s the must-make fight next.

“What’s Caleb Plant going to do?”