It was a rough Saturday evening for former WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders. Not only did he lose his highly anticipated unification fight against Canelo Alvarez, but he got quite beat up in the process.
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The match itself ended in an eighth-round TKO stoppage after an Alvarez uppercut left Saunders unable to open his left eye.
This uppercut gave Canelo the win 😤#CaneloSaunders
(via @DAZNBoxing) pic.twitter.com/10odujcSBs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2021
🥊🇬🇧 Mark Tibbs might just have saved Billy Joe Saunders’ eyesight never mind his career.
Great call 👏👏#CaneloSaunders pic.twitter.com/8Hui0GQHjb
— Boxing UK (@Boxing_UK_) May 9, 2021
Yeah, so that filthy uppercut that was the final blow left Billy Joe Saunders with what’s known as a “quadripod fracture” of his right orbital bone.
That injury just doesn’t sound pleasant. Apparently, it is one severe enough that Saunders will be having surgery on Sunday at John Peter Smith Hospital in Forth Worth, Texas, where he was rushed after the fight concluded Saturday night.
Bumped into @EddieHearn in the lobby on his way to see Billy Joe Saunders at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Saunders set to have surgery today on multiple fractures to his orbital bone, a complete blowout, known as a quadripod fracture. Brutal injury #CaneloSaunders
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 9, 2021
Yikes! Not only did Saunders suffer the first loss of his professional career, but he literally got his face destroyed too.
With the win, Canelo Alvarez became the undisputed super-middleweight champ of the boxing world. He was a massive betting favorite, so the match result isn’t necessarily a surprise. Still, the fashion in which he finished it off was truly unforgettable.
Canelo adds another title to his collection 🏆
Alvarez gets the TKO victory after Billy Joe Saunders can’t continue after the 8th round. #CaneloSaunders
(📸: @DAZNBoxing, @ESPNKnockOut) pic.twitter.com/JP2gqDgdGG
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 9, 2021
I mean, Canelo has got belts for days at this point!
You know something else that won’t soon be forgotten from Saturday’s unification fight is the 73,000+ who filled AT&T Stadium to watch it. It marked the biggest crowd for a sporting event in the United States since back before they decided to restrict the rights on attending said events in the first place.
Jerry’s World sure was rocking last night.
More than 73,000 in attendance tonight for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders fight.
The atmosphere is electric 🔥
pic.twitter.com/phljEIMzBp— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 9, 2021
You love to see it.
Call me crazy, but Texas looks like a mighty fine place to be right about now!
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