Billy Joe Saunders vs Martin Murray-Preview
Billy Joe Saunders returns to the ring to defend his WBO Super Middleweight title against Martin Murray.
Saunders returns to the ring after an absence of 12 months and faces a tough, rugged and experienced fighter in Murray who is looking to win his maiden World title at the fifth time of asking.
However, the champion Billy Joe Saunders is looking to make it five defeats in five world title fights for the challenger with a career best performance that he hopes will send the 38-year old Murray into ‘retirement’.
Saunders, 31, is undefeated in his professional career and is not lacking any confidence in his second title defence of his WBO Super Middleweight title. “I know Martin is coming to fight but I haven't been beaten on UK soil since I was 12 years old.
Saunders who has been a controversial figure over the course of his career, with numerous fines being administered by the British Boxing Board of Control with the most recent of which came earlier this year after a video posted online.
But the controversy and brash nature of the Champion has not deterred Murray from achieving his lifelong dream. "I've always had that belief I'd become world champion.” Said the man from St. Helens.
The pair were due to meet in 2018 but that bout never materialised due to injuries and the fight was never rescheduled. Murray believes the pair have unfinished business when they meet in the ring on December 4th. “I really rate Billy Joe. We've got unfinished business. I firmly believe that the pull-outs years, all the little setbacks I've had, have all brought me to this point.
"I'm fit, focused and ready."
If Murray wins he will achieve a lifelong dream, something that was cast into doubt during the pandemic. "I thought Covid had finished my career. I fought in November last year - I didn't think I was going to get a fight this year. When I got the phone call to say get ready, I couldn't believe it. I was made up but I have always believed I would get my opportunity."
If Saunders wins and retains his world title, he will be looking towards the big fights around the 160 and 168lb divisions. An impressive win against Murray could see him target big fights against Genady Golovkin, the WBO World Champion at Middleweight Demetrius Andrade and the winner of Canelo vs Callum Smith on December 19th. For Saunders a victory will mean much more than the retention of his title but it will provide a pathway to huge fights that he has been demanding.
The Rest of the Card
The chief support of the Super Middleweight World Title fight is an enticing matchup between James Tennyson and Josh O’Reilly in a WBA World Title eliminator.
Tennyson has been very impressive in his recent performances, exhibiting great power, skill and an extensive boxing IQ. The man from Belfast believes that he is ready to take the next step in his career and that a World Title is in the near future. A victory will see him next in line for a shot at the WBA title in the Lightweight division.
Just before the intriguing chief support, Shannon Courtenay squares off against Dorota Norek. Courtenay lost to Rachel Ball last time out and will be looking erase the sole defeat on her record from recent memory.
Courtenay boxed well in parts in the bout against Rachel Ball but a knockdown sealed the victory for Ball. Courtenay has been steadily improving throughout her fights and will look to show why she is a rising prospect in the Super-bantamweight division.
