BoxRec

Billy Joe Saunders will make his long-awaited US debut when he defends his WBO Super-Middleweight World title for the first time on the blockbuster KSI vs. Logan Paul 2 show at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Saturday November 9, live on DAZN.

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

The Hatfield southpaw’s first World title came against Irish fight legend Andy Lee at Manchester Arena in December 2015 when he floored the former champion twice in the third round on route to a majority decision to claim the WBO Middleweight crown.

Saunders signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in August and is out to impress on his big DAZN debut later this year as he aims to secure megafights with the likes of Callum Smith, Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez.

“It feels like my professional debut all over again,” said Saunders. “I’m very excited to fight in front of the American fans for the first time in my professional career. The STAPLES Center is an unbelievable venue and I’m hearing that 20,000 people are expected to be packed in on the night.

“It’s a great chance to get some new fans onboard and a chance to capitalise on putting my name in the big lights in America. The KSI vs. Logan Paul rematch has really captured the imagination of the British and American public and it’s something that sells. Fair play to them both, it’s going to be a great show.

“People say, ‘oh you’re on the undercard’, but I feel like we’re all sharing the show, we’re all absorbing that energy off the fans. I’ve seen the numbers they attract, over six million people watched the press conference alone, and all eyes will be on us on November 9.

“I’m looking forward to making my debut with Matchroom Boxing live on DAZN. There’s been some brilliant names signed to DAZN recently and there’s some big names on the platform. It’s time to really put my impressing shoes on and put my name out there for those big fights to be made.”

“I’m really pleased for Billy that he will get to make his US debut on November 9 at the superb STAPLES Center,” said Eddie Hearn. “Everyone in the sport knows that he is one of the best out there at 160lbs and 168lbs and he wanted the opportunity to prove that he IS the best.

“This event will be huge with a chance for Billy to box in front of a massive global audience of boxing fans and a casual audience that we hope will fall in love with our sport. A strong performance in November can set up all the mega fights for him in 2020.”

Saunders’ opponent will be announced next week.

General sale tickets are available to purchase now via www.axs.com

Right, so TBA, will have to be someone BJS will good against, potentially able to stop or really box well against. He can't be putting the crowd to sleep before the main event.

Current WBO top 15

1. Erik Bazinyan
2. Rohan Murdock
3. Zach Parker
4. Zac Dunn
5. Roamer Angulo
6. Vincent Feigenbutz
7. Willie Monroe
8. Aslambek Idigov
9. Aidos Yerbossynuly
10. Juergen Braehmer
11. Fedor Chudinov
12. Emmanuel Martley
13. Lerrone Richards
14. Stefan Haertel
15. Mate Kis
**************
Unless they draft someone in last minute into the top 15..

Any ideas? rumours??

Shame- would like to have seen him in some blockbuster fights

The old faithful TBA. Great.

ewenhay wrote: ↑20 Sep 2019, 14:14 The old faithful TBA. Great.

We find out next week. I think it will be no one from above, magically someone outside the top 15 will appear in the top 15 and be his opponent.

Is Carson Jones still going ?

Goes to show and puts in perspective , what a great carreer BJS has had , here he is 2 time world champ being support act to a circus show , against another TBA ,, my guess they will go for Zac Dunn ,

coneye wrote: ↑20 Sep 2019, 20:02 Goes to show and puts in perspective , what a great carreer BJS has had , here he is 2 time world champ being support act to a circus show , against another TBA ,, my guess they will go for Zac Dunn ,

Yeah I thought that, or Willie Munro to give an American connection.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Sep 2019, 20:22

coneye wrote: ↑20 Sep 2019, 20:02 Goes to show and puts in perspective , what a great carreer BJS has had , here he is 2 time world champ being support act to a circus show , against another TBA ,, my guess they will go for Zac Dunn ,

Yeah I thought that, or Willie Munro to give an American connection.

Again?

Vince Feigenbutz has got good backing from the Sauerlands, not sure they would risk another defeat yet after the rebuild they have been doing tho.

yawnfest as usual .

bjs is a joke

stevec@france wrote: ↑21 Sep 2019, 03:38 yawnfest as usual .

bjs is a joke

I agree,such a talented fighter but getting what he deserves i suppose.

I can't believe Hearns will continue down the TBA route, he won't make any money like that, the big fights are to be made, BJS is in the mix and I'm confident Hearns will make those fights

samwbr wrote: ↑21 Sep 2019, 01:57

KiwiRider wrote: ↑20 Sep 2019, 20:22
Yeah I thought that, or Willie Munro to give an American connection.

Again?

Vince Feigenbutz has got good backing from the Sauerlands, not sure they would risk another defeat yet after the rebuild they have been doing tho.

Feigenbutz is the perfect opponent to make Bill look good. Plodding puncher who loads up and doesn’t have a great chin. Hearn’s as well paying over the odds as it’ll pay back if he can get some momentum behind a GGG/Canelo type fight. The opponent will give a good indication of just how serious Hearn is about Saunders

fizzjambo wrote: ↑21 Sep 2019, 08:50

samwbr wrote: ↑21 Sep 2019, 01:57

Again?

Vince Feigenbutz has got good backing from the Sauerlands, not sure they would risk another defeat yet after the rebuild they have been doing tho.

Feigenbutz is the perfect opponent to make Bill look good. Plodding puncher who loads up and doesn’t have a great chin. Hearn’s as well paying over the odds as it’ll pay back if he can get some momentum behind a GGG/Canelo type fight. The opponent will give a good indication of just how serious Hearn is about Saunders

Feigenburtz will stay in Germany and pick up a belt eventually before getting exposed.

Chudinov maybe with Hearns Russian links ?

13 & 15 would walkovers for BJS if they take easy route.

Initially Gabe Rosado was being mooted.

It has also been confirmed that the PPV cost for the event will be a reasonable £9.99, cheaper than most other boxing event screened through the channel’s box office.

“It will be a lot cheaper than a standard Saturday night, £9.99, so around half price,” Hearn said.

“We want Billy Joe Saunders to be part of the preview, I don’t want to restrict his UK audience viewing. Maybe building up to the night, KSI and maybe one other US fight on PPV.”

Marcelo Esteban Coceres (28-0-1, 15KOs)


It’s listed that BJS will fight this man above. However it was confirmed he was on the shortlist and an opponent is yet to be announced.

Never heard of him

I see he's beaten the mighty German Ignacio Peralta on points though

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑07 Oct 2019, 17:03 Never heard of him

I see he's beaten the mighty German Ignacio Peralta on points though

Who?

He's a middleweight. Typical Hearn.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Sep 2019, 12:14 It has also been confirmed that the PPV cost for the event will be a reasonable £9.99, cheaper than most other boxing event screened through the channel’s box office.

“It will be a lot cheaper than a standard Saturday night, £9.99, so around half price,” Hearn said.

“We want Billy Joe Saunders to be part of the preview, I don’t want to restrict his UK audience viewing. Maybe building up to the night, KSI and maybe one other US fight on PPV.”

Errrr, cheers. Rip off boxing fans by making domestic fights PPV and making it 'cheap' for the casuals. You're truly spoiling us.

'Long awaited' US debut? So, outside of his family, who would that be then?

Matt W wrote: ↑08 Oct 2019, 06:44 Errrr, cheers. Rip off boxing fans by making domestic fights PPV and making it 'cheap' for the casuals. You're truly spoiling us.

Also, just to clarify.. Billy Joe Saunders will NOT be part of the ppv broadcast. He will be on a preview show on regular Sky Sports, prior to the ppv beginning.

BJS = joke

He can only dream of being revered in boxing like GGG (and even in his dreams it's a stretch).

Black Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑08 Oct 2019, 01:44 He's a middleweight. Typical Hearn.

TBH so is Saunders.

yawn