Sports

Billy Joe Saunders has boxing licence suspended after video mocking domestic violence


Saunders holds the WBO super-middleweight title (Picture: Getty)

Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has had his boxing licence suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The BBBofC confirmed they had suspended Saunders after he released a video that showed men how to beat their girlfriends during the coronavirus pandemic.

Saunders has since apologised for the video, while his Promoter Eddie Hearn slammed his fighter for the comments.

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In the video Saunders shows men how to ‘hit her on the chin’ when a woman speaks back to you, demonstrating on a punch bag.

A statement from the Board read: ‘The British Boxing Board of Control having considered comments made by Billy Joe Saunders on social media have suspended the boxer’s licence pending a hearing under the Board’s misconduct regulation, at a time and venue to be confirmed as soon as possible.’

WBO super-middleweight champion Saunders now faces another hefty fine after previously falling foul of the Board’s expectations and risks having his licence stripped completely.

The 30-year-old was fined £100,000 in September 2018 after a video emerged of him asking a woman to perform a sex act on him for £150 worth of drugs.

Saunders was found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute and issued a severe reprimand.

The Board’s offices are currently unoccupied during the coronavirus pandemic and it announced on Monday all events in May have been called off.

The public health crisis could delay a decision being made on Saunders’ future for some time.

Saunders has a chequered personal history, but is unbeaten in 29 pro fights and is preparing for the biggest bout of his career.

A clash with multiple-weight world champion Canelo Alvarez was due to be announced this month, but the fight has now been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Saunders apologised on social media for the video and intends to donate £25,000 to a domestic violence charity.

‘First of all, I’ve apologised on social media and I just want to say sorry again for everyone I’ve offended,’ Saunders told TalkSport on Monday.

‘I looked at it as a bit of a joke at first, I obviously wasn’t thinking right, but looking back at it now I can clearly see the destruction it has caused among the women suffering from domestic violence.

‘It was a silly mistake, but I didn’t intentionally mean to cause harm to anyone and I certainly wouldn’t promote domestic violence.’

Saunders faces a massive fine and possible suspension (Picture: Getty)

‘But I also didn’t mean for anyone to get intentionally upset about it,’ Saunders continued.

‘There are people dying all around the world with coronavirus and I tried to take the heat off that a little bit by cheering everybody up, but it clearly hasn’t done it.

‘My sense of humour is not everyone’s cup of tea.

‘I can only take it back and apologise for it; I’ve spoken to my manager and among other things I will be donating £25,000 to support domestic violence charities.

‘It is clearly a silly thing to do and I can’t take it back.’

MORE: Eddie Hearn slams Billy Joe Saunders for video on how men can beat girlfriends during coronavirus lockdown

MORE: Billy Joe Saunders films tutorial teaching men how to hit their girlfriends during covid-19 lockdown

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