Billy Joe Saunders vs. Marcelo Esteban Coceres - 9 November 2019

[coneye]

Suprise , suprise , , Hope the Argie pulls one out the bag

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Billy Joe Saunders will make the first defence of his WBO Super Middleweight World title against undefeated Argentinian Marcelo Esteban Coceres on the blockbuster KSI vs. Logan Paul 2 show at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Saturday November 9, live on DAZN in the US and Sky Sports Box Office in the UK.

Saunders (28-0, 13 KOs) became a two-weight World Champion with a shutout points win over Shefat Isufi in Stevenage earlier this year, outclassing his Serbian opponent over 12 rounds to add the WBO 168lbs crown to his collection.

The Hatfield star is on the verge of securing mega fights with the elite fighters of the 160 and 168lbs divisions after signing a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing and knows that a slip up against Coceres would be disastrous.

Coceres (28-0-1, 15 KOs), from San Jorge, is undefeated in 29 fights since turning professional in 2012 and the 28-year-old has won numerous titles at Super-Welter and Middleweight, most recently picking up the WBO Latino and WBA Fedebol Middleweight titles.

"I'm really looking forward to fighting in LA and making my professional American debut and my first fight under the Matchroom umbrella on DAZN and Sky Sports," said Saunders. "Marcelo Esteban Coceres is a tough, world-class operator, an unbeaten fighter and I certainly feel the pressure to outperform him and look good on such a massive platform. Training is going very well, I just have to stay focused and get the job done."

"I can’t wait to see Billy Joe shine stateside and what a huge platform to do it," said Eddie Hearn. "He is right in the mix for all the big fights in 2020 but he can’t slip up here and if he can make a statement against Coceres then I truly believe he will land a monster in the first half of next year."

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing, said: "We are very excited to have the outstanding Billy Joe Saunders back on Sky - and what a night to make his re-appearance! This is a real chance for our growing sport to reach a new audience with world class fighters in action before the YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul clash. Bring on November 9th!"

[magnus]

Well, this is mundane as fornicate.

An unknown, Argentinian, Middleweight, you are spoiling us Eddie.

Quite how this helps BJS get any closer to a big fight (Canelo, GGG, even Jacobs) I don't know. The only redemption would be if immediately after this fight it's announced that he'll fight Smith early next year, but I suspect that even if that fight is made we'll have to wait seven months for "stadium season".

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gotta say,

BJS's US debut vs. Eubank Jr's US debut...

You be the judge,?

[margaret thatcher]

Obviously Eubank has the better opponent

[Nightmare Roy]

Gotta say,

BJS's US debut vs. Eubank Jr's US debut...

You be the judge,?

Ohhh that’s a toughie

[bigjack]

boring as shite AGAIN

[handsofstone]

Looking through Coceres's record he might turn out to be worse than Isufi in the padded record stakes, Saunders should win this at a canter but you never know, Akavov nearly beat him and Isufi did wobble him last time out, I'm hoping if he is as excited to be on this card as Eddie says he is then he'll be looking to put on a show, who knows theres a slight chance Coceres could be alright but I doubt it, he's an Argie so he'll be tough rugged and not much else i'd imagine

[jamesmcdonnell]

It's a shame Saunders hadn't shown much ambition to make the most of his talent. At his best he could have given anybody a decent argument, but he's always been happy to bottom feed.

He will be remembered accordingly.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[bigjack]

Well they got the Argentinians nickname right then

[Ruthless-RKO]

Well they got the Argentinians nickname right then

He's no Erik Morales..

[Stuarty]

Surely nobody on here is buying this/staying up to watch it? Absolute fukkin joke!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Surely nobody on here is buying this/staying up to watch it? Absolute fukkin joke!

BJS is on regular Sky.

[Stuarty]

Surely nobody on here is buying this/staying up to watch it? Absolute fukkin joke!

BJS is on regular Sky.

So is it just they two YouTube helmets thats PPV?

Still, no way I'm staying up to watch BJS lol...

[Ruthless-RKO]

BJS is on regular Sky.

So is it just they two YouTube helmets thats PPV?

Still, no way I'm staying up to watch BJS lol...

Same. If he had a half decent opponent then maybe..

[Stuarty]

So is it just they two YouTube helmets thats PPV?

Still, no way I'm staying up to watch BJS lol...

Same. If he had a half decent opponent then maybe..

Yeah probably mate. I like BJS as a fighter but his career seems a bit of a damp squib so far.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[samwbr]

Waster

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[KiwiRider]

"Big names on notice! "

Yeah, now America knows it's hard on the voicebox trying to boo for more than ten rounds.
What a way to make his US debut.

[coneye]

Had no intention of watching this or the other rubbish the main event , But from what i'm reading Billy Joe , made a right cockup ofs his USA debut , The only good thing about it , is the fact that the few who are interested in him might walk away ,

[tobyh5]

Saunders is vastly overrated. He puts in poor performances nearly every time with the occasional decent showing but which needs to be judged by the quality of oppositon.

The career big win which everyone raves about is David F**king Lemieux. I mean come on, who? Guy is good, has a cracking bit of power but we are not talking about a great fighter here. Ditto Andy Lee. Another really well schooled, good tough guy but ffs he got twatted by Chavez Jnr and bloody Brian Vera the first time.

Good opposition but also previously easily beaten.

BJS can box, he does have skills with no doubt but massively overrated on the back of an eye test against world class (but flawed world class) opposition.

Plus at the weigh in he looked complete fcking garbage. Soft as shite

[lillywhite14]

Saunders is vastly overrated. He puts in poor performances nearly every time with the occasional decent showing but which needs to be judged by the quality of oppositon.

The career big win which everyone raves about is David F**king Lemieux. I mean come on, who? Guy is good, has a cracking bit of power but we are not talking about a great fighter here. Ditto Andy Lee. Another really well schooled, good tough guy but ffs he got twatted by Chavez Jnr and bloody Brian Vera the first time.

Good opposition but also previously easily beaten.

BJS can box, he does have skills with no doubt but massively overrated on the back of an eye test against world class (but flawed world class) opposition.

Plus at the weigh in he looked complete fcking garbage. Soft as shite

And you get people saying Canelo etc do not want any part of him. He’d have BJS going massively in to his shell and trying to see the twelve rounds out.

He’s fine against slow, limited boxers, A green Eubank jnr showed us BJS’ level. I think he’d probably lose a rematch if they fought again