Billy Joe Saunders, to turn pro with Frankie Warren?

[Asterix]

Billy Joe Saunders, the young boxer at the hub of Britain's boxing bust-up in Beijing, has been given a mere slap on the wrist by the Amateur Boxing Association – a £250 fine for alleged "lewd behaviour" on a video – which leaves him free to compete in November's European Championships in Liverpool. However, the probability is that he will instead turn professional with promoter Frankie Warren. An announcement is likely this week. Saunders is angry that his original suspension, after what simply involved the use of a relatively innocuous four-letter word months before the Games, was leaked by an ABA official, undermining the Olympic team. Last week a disciplinary panel described the offence as "minor". The loss of the highly talented 19-year-old welterweight will be a major blow to Britain's 2012 prospects, with other squad members, including gold medallist James DeGale, also set to turn pro if coach Terry Edwards quits or is discarded.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 44708.html

[Gray-Fox]

Good for him. I'll wait until he does something outstanding before I take an interest.

[TerribleTerry]

Billy Joe has already caught my interest - the lad is the best pro prosepct out of all the GB and Ireland Beijing boxers for my money.

Very mature boxing style for his age and the way he attacks the body and punches in combination will hold him in good stead in the pros.

FW might not be very popular with a lot of fans but he is no one's fool - BJS will make an outstanding pro fighter, I just hope he doesn't reach 25-0 without facing a proper challenge. He is too good to wrap up in cotton wool.

Will be interesting to see who trains him - handled properly I could see Saunders going all the way to (genuine) world honours.