WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has beaten Martin Murray over 12 rounds at the SSE Arena, London. The win sees Saunders remain undefeated as his record moves to 30-0.
News 5 Dec, 2020 by Deke Smith | Quick read
657 times | 0
WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has beaten Martin Murray over 12 rounds at the SSE Arena, London. The win sees Saunders remain undefeated as his record moves to 30-0.
At 38 years old and with five losses on his record, Murray was the heavy underdog going in. However, as a four-time world title challenger, he has been in with some of the world's elite, and in his fifth attempt, we expected him to give Saunders a difficult night.
Unfortunately for Murray, Saunders started the fight on good form, catching him with sharp and hurtful combinations while taking little in return.
Towards the end of the fourth, Murray stumbled to the canvas after taking punishment on the ropes. Fortunately for him, it was ruled a slip, sparing him a 10-8 round.
Murray's best work came in the eighth when he managed to start working his way inside and banging the body, but ultimately, while he never stopped pushing forwards, he wasn't the fighter he was a few years back and just couldn't solve the puzzle of Saunders.
The highlight of the night was the Saunders uppercut down the middle, which he couldn't fail to land. In the end, while not the easiest of nights for Saunders, it was a shut-out performance with the judges scoring it 120-108, 120-108 and 118-110.
While Murray will likely hang up the gloves, Saunders can look forward to 2021 and a potential clash with the winner of Callum Smith v Canelo Álvarez. The Canelo fight is one that Saunders has been chasing for some time now, but with an official date failing to materialise, the opportunity passed to WBA champion, Smith. Smith and Álvarez go head to head on 19th December in Texas, USA, with the winner no doubt becoming the target for Saunders and his team.
Elsewhere on the card -
Josh O'Reilly (16-0) vs James Tennyson (27-3)
12 rounds at lightweight
Winner - Tennyson (TKO 1)
Shannon Courtenay (6-1) vs Dorita Norek (6-2)
Eight rounds at Bantamweight
Winner - Courtenay (TKO 7)
Donte Dixon (5-0) vs Angelo Dragone (5-2)
Six rounds at featherweight
Winner - Dixon (58-56)
Timo Laine (28 - 15) vs Lerrone Richards (14-0)
Eight rounds at super-middleweight
Winner - Richards (80-72)
The post doesn't have any comments just yet. Why not be the first?
Have an opinion? Leave a comment...