Unverified images of massively overweight Billy Joe Saunders go viral

[Enlightened-One]

"Unverified images of massively overweight Billy Joe Saunders go viral"



That’s if you believe unverified photographs that have been shared widely on social media and turned into memes to the fullest extent by boxing fans.

The former super-middleweight champion could be another victim of a solid effort on photoshop as Saunders hasn’t officially gotten pictured since February 25th.

On the image pictured alongside one of his horses last month, Saunders does look like he’s pushing cruiserweight. However, not the super-heavyweight limit portrayed on the viral selfie taken in his car.

Saunders is closing in on a year out of the ring since landing the jackpot against Canelo in Texas. Over 70,000 people attended during one of the worst spells of Covid-19 in the world, breaking more than one record in the process.



Canelo broke Saunders’ eye socket and closed the show in the mid-rounds. The Briton could no longer carry on and suffered his first career loss.

At the end of the fight, Canelo said the encounter went how he planned it, despite the fact some had Saunders up on the scorecards through seven rounds.

“No. The fight I was winning round-by-round. I told you, my fight would develop after six or seven rounds. But I started getting adjusted quickly.

“I knew that this [the eighth] would be the final round. But I knew it. I think I broke his cheek, and I knew he wouldn’t come out [for the ninth]. That was it.”

Since then, reports, the 32-year-old is ready to retire are forever in the media. Saunders himself admitted more than once that it certainly could be his last.

Talk of one more against Chris Eubank Jr. or another top contender at light-heavyweight for a three-weight world title bid wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility either.

But for now, BJS seems to be content living his life and enjoying downtime. Weight for not, Billy Joe Saunders could still have one more fight left in him yet.

Thoughts?

[Enlightened-One]

The first photo, the close-up of Saunders’ face, looks pretty bad, to the point it might even be fake.

In the second photo, Billy Joe’s face still does look a bit swollen, but his body doesn’t look particularly big.

In fact, there’s a mismatch between the excess weight on Saunders’ face (cheeks and jawline), as opposed to his arms and legs.

Billy Joe will inevitably be heavy, because he’s been out-of-action for almost a year and considers himself to be pretty much retired.

But I wouldn’t describe him as being “massively overweight” - that's a blatant exaggeration!

If you went to your local bar, pub or even commercial gym, he wouldn’t physically look any different to any of the other punters.

[HomicideHenry]

Not a real surprise that champions in the lower weight divisions balloon in weight between fights, Ricky Hatton and Roberto Duran would look unrecognizable between fights. Saunders looks maybe 180-190 pounds, which wouldn't be too hard for him to shed.

[adislav123]

if that picture with the sheep of his massive head is real he's way beyond 200. he coild fight at fvckin bridgerweight now i guess.

[adislav123]

pony. whatever.

[adislav123]

child horse. doesn't matter. maybe midget stallion.

[adislav123]

he did very good vs. canelo. i had him ahead tol he ducked into a massive punch that broke his eyesocket. unfortunately one just can"t continue fighting with a broken face.

he has millions of pounds in the bank. guess he's done with boxing. i would. living the country live.

[Controversial]

Is this a story? Lots of fighters are a lot bigger when they are not training

[AngryGoon38]

He looks like a Country and Western Singer.
A British Kenny Rogers..?

[Las Vegas boxing guy]

I could see Saunders getting the hunger (no pun intended) back for boxing and pull a Tyson Fury weight loss/hard training comeback. If not though, I hope he enjoys a pleasant retirement.

[margaret thatcher]

bill's been stealing all that poor skinny pony's food

[Wales]

In the last two months he’s been on uk radio show called talkSPORT.

First time he said he’s contemplating retirement. Second time he said he’d like a rematch with eubank jnr.

So…. Basically his “run” is over. He’ll either retire or fight Eubank again in the UK to make some doe.

No issue with that. Amazing career.
Really good amateur.
31-1 as a pro, won two world titles at two different weights, and fought Canelo as a genuine opponent.

[Ruthless-RKO]

In the last two months he’s been on uk radio show called talkSPORT.

First time he said he’s contemplating retirement. Second time he said he’d like a rematch with eubank jnr.

So…. Basically his “run” is over. He’ll either retire or fight Eubank again in the UK to make some doe.

No issue with that. Amazing career.
Really good amateur.
31-1 as a pro, won two world titles at two different weights, and fought Canelo as a genuine opponent.

Record sounds good doesn’t it..

Until you look at at resume at world level and how he won his 2nd weight title etc.

[Enlightened-One]

In the last two months he’s been on uk radio show called talkSPORT.

First time he said he’s contemplating retirement. Second time he said he’d like a rematch with eubank jnr.

So…. Basically his “run” is over. He’ll either retire or fight Eubank again in the UK to make some doe.

No issue with that. Amazing career.
Really good amateur.
31-1 as a pro, won two world titles at two different weights, and fought Canelo as a genuine opponent.

Record sounds good doesn’t it..

Until you look at at resume at world level and how he won his 2nd weight title etc.

To be fair, at some point or other, the likes of Canelo (twice), Golovkin (twice), Callum Smith, Lemieux, Khurtsidze, Andrade and Eubank Jr. have all previously either declined opportunities to face Saunders or expressed their disinterest in facing the Brit or withdrew from bouts that Billy Joe had signed-up for.

Saunders actually signed the contract to face GGG twice, but Gennadiy refused to take the bout on both occassions.

Canelo lobbied to become Saunders' mandatory challenger at 160lbs, but suddenly rejected the bout when the WBO agreed to GBP's request.

Saunders' even signed a two-fight deal with GBP, with the second fight to be against Canelo, but De La Hoya renegged on their agreement.

I could go one-and-on.

I'm not saying all these guys feared Saunders, but they all refused to face Billy Joe for one reason or another.

And you can't make somebody fight you if they don't want to.

I also think that Saunders’ was a bit injury prone, which led to inactivity.

[Ruthless-RKO]

In the last two months he’s been on uk radio show called talkSPORT.

First time he said he’s contemplating retirement. Second time he said he’d like a rematch with eubank jnr.

So…. Basically his “run” is over. He’ll either retire or fight Eubank again in the UK to make some doe.

No issue with that. Amazing career.
Really good amateur.
31-1 as a pro, won two world titles at two different weights, and fought Canelo as a genuine opponent.

Record sounds good doesn’t it..

Until you look at at resume at world level and how he won his 2nd weight title etc.

To be fair, at some point or other, the likes of Canelo (twice), Golovkin (twice), Callum Smith, Lemieux, Khurtsidze, Andrade and Eubank Jr. have all previously either declined opportunities to face Saunders or expressed their disinterest in facing the Brit or withdrew from bouts that Billy Joe had signed-up for.

Saunders actually signed the contract to face GGG twice, but Gennadiy refused to take the bout on both occassions.

Canelo lobbied to become Saunders' mandatory challenger at 160lbs, but suddenly rejected the bout when the WBO agreed to GBP's request.

Saunders' even signed a two-fight deal with GBP, with the second fight to be against Canelo, but De La Hoya renegged on their agreement.

I could go one-and-on.

I'm not saying all these guys feared Saunders, but they all refused to face Billy Joe for one reason or another.

And you can't make somebody fight you if they don't want to.

I also think that Saunders’ was a bit injury prone, which led to inactivity.

That’s all good the ifs and buts. But no one will really care about what could have happened. They will look at what really happened.

Not all of it was his fault though.

[Enlightened-One]

That’s all good the ifs and buts. But no one will really care about what could have happened. They will look at what really happened.

Not all of it was his fault though.

I completely agree.

There are three undeniable historical facts that would be associated with Billy Joe’s boxing legacy:

• His resume was underwhelming
• He was inactive, due to being injury-prone
• And many of his top-ten world-rated peers were reluctant to face him

People prefer to acknowledge the first two facts, but often refuse to concede the last one, usually because it means admitting that at least one of their favourite fighters were reluctant to face Saunders (despite the irrefutable nature of the evidence).

[Wales]

In the last two months he’s been on uk radio show called talkSPORT.

First time he said he’s contemplating retirement. Second time he said he’d like a rematch with eubank jnr.

So…. Basically his “run” is over. He’ll either retire or fight Eubank again in the UK to make some doe.

No issue with that. Amazing career.
Really good amateur.
31-1 as a pro, won two world titles at two different weights, and fought Canelo as a genuine opponent.

Record sounds good doesn’t it..

Until you look at at resume at world level and how he won his 2nd weight title etc.

I’d say it’s an amazing career. If it was mine I’d be happy.

Born and raised on a traveler site in caravans went on to win Commonwealth gold medal as amateur.
31-1 record
Shared a ring with canelo
World titles at two weights
Reportedly made 8m from the Canelo fight and a fair few quid from the other fights too

I don’t think You don’t have to achieve what a Maywesther or a Canelo have to be classed as having an amazing career.

[Wales]

Could’ve achieved more by fighting at elite level I agree there

But

British champion
Commonwealth champion
European champion
World champion at 2 weights
Lost against Canelo but didn’t disgrace himself

I’d be happy with that

The Lemieux performance was great too

[margaret thatcher]

have bjs's career achievements been listed in this thread yet? cant see them anywhere

[maverick23]

In the last two months he’s been on uk radio show called talkSPORT.

First time he said he’s contemplating retirement. Second time he said he’d like a rematch with eubank jnr.

So…. Basically his “run” is over. He’ll either retire or fight Eubank again in the UK to make some doe.

No issue with that. Amazing career.
Really good amateur.
31-1 as a pro, won two world titles at two different weights, and fought Canelo as a genuine opponent.

Record sounds good doesn’t it..

Until you look at at resume at world level and how he won his 2nd weight title etc.

To be fair, at some point or other, the likes of Canelo (twice), Golovkin (twice), Callum Smith, Lemieux, Khurtsidze, Andrade and Eubank Jr. have all previously either declined opportunities to face Saunders or expressed their disinterest in facing the Brit or withdrew from bouts that Billy Joe had signed-up for.

Saunders actually signed the contract to face GGG twice, but Gennadiy refused to take the bout on both occassions.

Canelo lobbied to become Saunders' mandatory challenger at 160lbs, but suddenly rejected the bout when the WBO agreed to GBP's request.

Saunders' even signed a two-fight deal with GBP, with the second fight to be against Canelo, but De La Hoya renegged on their agreement.

I could go one-and-on.

I'm not saying all these guys feared Saunders, but they all refused to face Billy Joe for one reason or another.

And you can't make somebody fight you if they don't want to.

I also think that Saunders’ was a bit injury prone, which led to inactivity.

It’s interesting that you say and it was reported that he’d signed to fight Golovkin (twice) and others but the opponents didn’t let the fights happen. I actually wonder what Billy Joe supposedly signed. Was it just a bout agreement with his own promoter (Warren) and then they couldn’t get the deal done with the commercially much bigger fighter?

[Evander]

He looks like a Country and Western Singer.
A British Kenny Rogers..?

[Enlightened-One]

Record sounds good doesn’t it..

Until you look at at resume at world level and how he won his 2nd weight title etc.

To be fair, at some point or other, the likes of Canelo (twice), Golovkin (twice), Callum Smith, Lemieux, Khurtsidze, Andrade and Eubank Jr. have all previously either declined opportunities to face Saunders or expressed their disinterest in facing the Brit or withdrew from bouts that Billy Joe had signed-up for.

Saunders actually signed the contract to face GGG twice, but Gennadiy refused to take the bout on both occassions.

Canelo lobbied to become Saunders' mandatory challenger at 160lbs, but suddenly rejected the bout when the WBO agreed to GBP's request.

Saunders' even signed a two-fight deal with GBP, with the second fight to be against Canelo, but De La Hoya renegged on their agreement.

I could go one-and-on.

I'm not saying all these guys feared Saunders, but they all refused to face Billy Joe for one reason or another.

And you can't make somebody fight you if they don't want to.

I also think that Saunders’ was a bit injury prone, which led to inactivity.

It’s interesting that you say and it was reported that he’d signed to fight Golovkin (twice) and others but the opponents didn’t let the fights happen. I actually wonder what Billy Joe supposedly signed. Was it just a bout agreement with his own promoter (Warren) and then they couldn’t get the deal done with the commercially much bigger fighter?

There are videos of Tom Loeffler and Billy Joe Saunders both confirming the Brit had signed contracts with K2 to face GGG twice, but Golovkin (for whatever reason) refused to sign his side of the deal on both occassions.

And remember, back in the day, Tom Loeffler and K2 were GGG's promoter, not Billy's.

I'm not sure what the reasons for GGG declining those bouts were (perhaps they were legitimate, who knows?), but whatever the root cause, it proves that Billy Joe at least tried multiple times to engage in marquee bouts, but his rivals refrained from facing him.

And to be fair, this might sound controversial, but a win over Saunders would have been classed amongst GGG's top-four career victories to-date. And also would have unified all four major titles at middleweight.

[Evander]

Well it's possible GGG turned it down on money issues, it's not like he's bottling is it if that's the case.
Way Canelo easily went through BJS suggests the big names won't fear Saunders in terms of strength, BJS has one and a half game plans which isn't near enough at elite level.

[Enlightened-One]

Well it's possible GGG turned it down on money issues, it's not like he's bottling is it if that's the case.
Way Canelo easily went through BJS suggests the big names won't fear Saunders in terms of strength, BJS has one and a half game plans which isn't near enough at elite level.

You have to assume that GGG would have been adequately compensated, because K2 (Golovkin's own promoter) initiated contract discussions on both occasions and Billy Joe agreed to the financial terms they stipulated.

I believe one of the occasions where the fight fell through was because K2 lost their funding for a bout that was supposed to be staged in Kazakhstan.

I can’t recall the precise details of the other occasion, but I think Saunders signed a contract to face Golovkin, for a fight-date occurring a few months prior to Gennadiy’s fight against Canelo, but GBP threatened to withdraw their fighter from the bout if K2 didn’t cancel GGG’s contest against Saunders.

Loeffler is on video (via iFTL TV) confirming the first scenario, with the second situation heavily documented.

There are also videos of Saunders invading the Canelo-GGG press conference openly mocking Loeffler and GGG for "losing their pen". The Brit also posted images on his social media of his interactions with Loeffler.

Like I keep saying over-and-over again, whatever the reasons for GGG declining those bouts were, regardless as to whether they were legitimate, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Billy Joe at least tried multiple times to engage in marquee bouts, but his rivals refrained from facing him.

I can also go into great detail how Canelo rejected opportunities to face Saunders in his prime at his natural habitat at 160lbs a few years ago.

[Evander]

Well it's possible GGG turned it down on money issues, it's not like he's bottling is it if that's the case.
Way Canelo easily went through BJS suggests the big names won't fear Saunders in terms of strength, BJS has one and a half game plans which isn't near enough at elite level.

You have to assume that GGG would have been adequately compensated, because K2 (Golovkin;s own promoter) initiated contract discussions on both occasions and Billy Joe agreed to the financial terms they stipulated.

I believe one of the occasions where the fight fell through was because K2 lost their funding for a bout that was supposed to be staged in Kazakhstan.

I can’t recall the precise details of the other occasion, but I think Saunders signed a contract to face Golovkin, a few months prior to Gennadiy’s fight against Canelo, but GBP threatened to withdraw their fighter from the bout if K2 didn’t cancel GGG’s contest against Saunders.

I read something like that too but it flew into the rumour pile due to lack of anything solid behind it.