WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Sport.
Saunders, who still maintains a perfect record after 28 fights, split amicably with Frank Warren earlier this month and penned a contract with Eddie Hearn on Tuesday morning.
The deal should edge the 29-year-old closer to showdowns with fellow Matchroom stablemen Demetrius Andrade and Callum Smith, as well as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, whom both fight on DAZN which has close ties to Hearn.
It’s a welcome move for the supremely talented two-weight world champion whose career had hit something of a stumbling block under Warren, unable to reach the magical heights he reached against David Lemieux in Canada at the tail-end of 2017.
Now, under Matchroom and Hearn’s guidance, Saunders should find the mega-fights on offer much easier to get a hold of. Speaking at his announcement presser, the southpaw said: “This move is going to benefit me massively. Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing can put me right out on the branch for those big fights.
“I’m on Golovkin and Canelo’s turf. I’ve made this move to make them fights because I’m sick of hearing their excuses. Those fights make financial sense and they make sense because we’re on the same network.”
The Hertfordshire fighter also added that he’s happy to move up and down in division to pursue the biggest fights out there: “I will go where the big fights are and I can fluctuate between middle and super-middle. If the big fights are at middleweight then I’ll have them at middle. If they’re at super-middleweight then I’ll have them at super.
“I’m a world champion at super-middle so if anyone wants to come and try to win a belt then I’ve got one of the most recognised belts out there and I’m open to big offers.”
Hearn also seemed happy with the new addition to his stable, adding: “Everyone in boxing knows how good Billy is and now he is going to get the chance to prove it against the elite.
“He holds a world title at 168 but can also make 160 comfortably and when you look at the fighters we work with across our platforms, this was an obvious link up.”
Saunders’ first fight under Matchroom is expected to be announced next week.
