Billy Joe Saunders could be stripped of world title over ‘how to hit a woman’ video
by Editor 2019
Billy Joe Saunders could be stripped of his super middleweight world championship after World Boxing Organisation president Paco Valcarcel hinted that the governing body will take action against the British boxer for his social media video on teaching men “how to hit a woman”.
Saunders is being investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control, who on Monday suspended his boxing licence with immediate effect following the release of the unacceptable video.
The 30-year-old deleted it from his social media account and issued an apology on Sunday, before announcing that he will donate a £25,000 fee from his next purse to a domestic violence charity and host “self-defence workshops and seminars for survivors and current or potential sufferers of domestic violence”.
But Saunders is facing a lengthy ban from British boxing following what is his second run-in with the BBBoC in 18 months, having been handed a £100,000 fine and severe reprimand for posting a video in September 2018 where he verbally offered a woman drugs in exchange for performing sex acts on a friend and for punching a passer-by.
After the BBBoC announced the suspension of Saunders’ licence, WBO president Valcarcel issued a strong statement on Twitter to confirm that the governing body will monitor the investigation before taking any further action that they deem necessary.
“Billie Joe Saunders’ recent actions are unacceptable,” Valcarcel said. “With his conduct, he failed his family, his friends, and his fans.
“The World Boxing Organisation will follow the British Boxing Board of Control’s investigation carefully before taking any further action.”
Saunders has said that his video was a failed attempt to be funny by advising men how to silence their wives and partners if they become annoying during the United Kingdom’s coronavirus lockdown. The two-weight world champion is understood to be facing up to a year’s ban from the ring, which could cost him a lucrative fight against current pound-for-pound king Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez – a bout that could have landed him in excess of £6m.
The strong sanction that Saunders is facing comes due to his previous indiscretion 18 months ago when another social media video landed him in hot water with the BBBoC. Although there was no evidence of Saunders having any drugs on him, he offered an apparent drug addict “£150 of crack” in exchange for performing a sex act and assaulting a stranger, describing the incident as “banter”.
Shape Created with Sketch.February top 10 pound-for-pound boxers in the world
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Shape Created with Sketch.February top 10 pound-for-pound boxers in the world
1/16 Who is the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world?
The ranking of The Independent’s 10 best male boxers on the planet. Take a look through to see who comes out on top.
Getty Images
2/16 On the rise: Anthony Joshua
Joshua recaptured his world heavyweight titles in dominant fashion, but in a new manner for the Briton: boxing beautifully off the back foot. He is now back in the mix, even if he is just behind Wilder and Fury, to be considered the best heavyweight in the world. All three are just on the outside of our list though until they fight each other
AP
3/16 On the rise: Deontay Wilder
Nobody can deny he has a claim as the most powerful puncher pound-for-pound, but despite wiping out Luis Ortiz, the Bronze Bomber needs to beat Tyson Fury clearly to justify a place inside the top 10 here
EPA
4/16 In the mix: Tyson Fury
Like Joshua and Wilder before, with a legitimate case to be the No 1 heavyweight in the world, Fury is just on the outside of our top 10 – if he manages to comprehensively beat Wilder – staying away from that big right hand for the full 12 rounds – he will be the first of the trio to leap back inside the top 10
Getty Images
5/16 On the rise: Josh Taylor (16-0)
Josh Taylor’s win over Regis Prograis to win the WBSS at 140 pounds was a massive statement – he’ll need to become the undisputed light welterweight champion by beating Jose Ramirez to make his place inside the top 10 indisputable
Getty Images
6/16 On the rise: Miguel Berchelt (37-1)
Miguel Berchelt smashed Jose Sosa to pieces inside four rounds to defend his WBC super featherweight title – now 37-1 and undefeated since 2014 with 16 consecutive wins and six straight defences
AFP via Getty Images
7/16 10. Juan Francisco Estrada (39-3-0)
The two-weight world champion grabbed the lineal super flyweight title against Sor Rungvisai to snatch his pound-for-pound status and the WBC gold.
Getty Images
8/16 9. Mikey Garcia (39-1-0)
Despite coming up short against Errol Spence in their welterweight bout, Garcia is still a modern great as a four-weight world champion.
Getty Images
9/16 8. Gennady Golovkin (39-1-1)
Despite suffering the first loss of his career against Canelo Alvarez, Golovkin’s stellar career keeps him in our rankings. The boxing legend is now a two-time world champion.
Getty Images
10/16 7. Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2)
The Filipino looked sensational to outpoint Keith Thurman, flooring the American and rolling back the years at 40 years old to confirm himself as the No 3 welterweight in the world at worst. Considering the illustrious names on his resume, a place inside the top 10 pound-for-pound list and a world class win this year confirms his place here.
AP
11/16 6. Errol Spence (26-0-0)
Spence beat Shawn Porter to unify the welterweight division as he goes in search of more belts. Danny Garcia looks set to be next.
Getty Images
12/16 5. Oleksandr Usyk (17-0-0)
The undisputed, undefeated, unified cruiserweight world champion has successfully moved up in weight, beating Chazz Witherspoon on his heavyweight debut.
Getty Images
13/16 4. Naoya Inoue (19-0-0)
The man nicknamed the ‘monster’ beat Nonito Donaire to win the World Boxing Super Series and move to 19-0 after a hard fought battle.
Getty Images
14/16 3. Terence Crawford (35-0-0)
Another three-weight world champion, Crawford enters our top three and reaffirmed his place as one of the sport’s greats after a knockout win against Amir Khan.
Getty Images
15/16 2. Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2)
One loss and a whole heap of controversy but Canelo’s record is one to be celebrated, a now four-weight world champion and still not even 30 years of age. The biggest star in the sport and an impressive KO win of Sergey Kovalev cements his standing, arguably has a claim to the throne, but he just misses out here.
USA TODAY Sports
16/16 1. Vasyl Lomachenko (14-1-0)
There can only be one. The king of the amateur game has stepped up to become the king of the professionals. Just 15 fights into his career and despite one career defeat, the current unified lightweight world champion sets records for days.
Loma won a world title in his third fight, became a two-weight champion in his seventh, and a three-weight champion in his twelfth fight. The king.
Less magic against a brave Luke Campbell, but more brutality, slashing body shots and exquisite balance and movement. Who’s next? Commey, Lopez, Davis?
Getty Images
1/16 Who is the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world?
The ranking of The Independent’s 10 best male boxers on the planet. Take a look through to see who comes out on top.
Getty Images
2/16 On the rise: Anthony Joshua
Joshua recaptured his world heavyweight titles in dominant fashion, but in a new manner for the Briton: boxing beautifully off the back foot. He is now back in the mix, even if he is just behind Wilder and Fury, to be considered the best heavyweight in the world. All three are just on the outside of our list though until they fight each other
AP
3/16 On the rise: Deontay Wilder
Nobody can deny he has a claim as the most powerful puncher pound-for-pound, but despite wiping out Luis Ortiz, the Bronze Bomber needs to beat Tyson Fury clearly to justify a place inside the top 10 here
EPA
4/16 In the mix: Tyson Fury
Like Joshua and Wilder before, with a legitimate case to be the No 1 heavyweight in the world, Fury is just on the outside of our top 10 – if he manages to comprehensively beat Wilder – staying away from that big right hand for the full 12 rounds – he will be the first of the trio to leap back inside the top 10
Getty Images
5/16 On the rise: Josh Taylor (16-0)
Josh Taylor’s win over Regis Prograis to win the WBSS at 140 pounds was a massive statement – he’ll need to become the undisputed light welterweight champion by beating Jose Ramirez to make his place inside the top 10 indisputable
Getty Images
6/16 On the rise: Miguel Berchelt (37-1)
Miguel Berchelt smashed Jose Sosa to pieces inside four rounds to defend his WBC super featherweight title – now 37-1 and undefeated since 2014 with 16 consecutive wins and six straight defences
AFP via Getty Images
7/16 10. Juan Francisco Estrada (39-3-0)
The two-weight world champion grabbed the lineal super flyweight title against Sor Rungvisai to snatch his pound-for-pound status and the WBC gold.
Getty Images
8/16 9. Mikey Garcia (39-1-0)
Despite coming up short against Errol Spence in their welterweight bout, Garcia is still a modern great as a four-weight world champion.
Getty Images
9/16 8. Gennady Golovkin (39-1-1)
Despite suffering the first loss of his career against Canelo Alvarez, Golovkin’s stellar career keeps him in our rankings. The boxing legend is now a two-time world champion.
Getty Images
10/16 7. Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2)
The Filipino looked sensational to outpoint Keith Thurman, flooring the American and rolling back the years at 40 years old to confirm himself as the No 3 welterweight in the world at worst. Considering the illustrious names on his resume, a place inside the top 10 pound-for-pound list and a world class win this year confirms his place here.
AP
11/16 6. Errol Spence (26-0-0)
Spence beat Shawn Porter to unify the welterweight division as he goes in search of more belts. Danny Garcia looks set to be next.
Getty Images
12/16 5. Oleksandr Usyk (17-0-0)
The undisputed, undefeated, unified cruiserweight world champion has successfully moved up in weight, beating Chazz Witherspoon on his heavyweight debut.
Getty Images
13/16 4. Naoya Inoue (19-0-0)
The man nicknamed the ‘monster’ beat Nonito Donaire to win the World Boxing Super Series and move to 19-0 after a hard fought battle.
Getty Images
14/16 3. Terence Crawford (35-0-0)
Another three-weight world champion, Crawford enters our top three and reaffirmed his place as one of the sport’s greats after a knockout win against Amir Khan.
Getty Images
15/16 2. Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2)
One loss and a whole heap of controversy but Canelo’s record is one to be celebrated, a now four-weight world champion and still not even 30 years of age. The biggest star in the sport and an impressive KO win of Sergey Kovalev cements his standing, arguably has a claim to the throne, but he just misses out here.
USA TODAY Sports
16/16 1. Vasyl Lomachenko (14-1-0)
There can only be one. The king of the amateur game has stepped up to become the king of the professionals. Just 15 fights into his career and despite one career defeat, the current unified lightweight world champion sets records for days.
Loma won a world title in his third fight, became a two-weight champion in his seventh, and a three-weight champion in his twelfth fight. The king.
Less magic against a brave Luke Campbell, but more brutality, slashing body shots and exquisite balance and movement. Who’s next? Commey, Lopez, Davis?
Getty Images
A BBCoC statement after that investigation said: “The stewards have found Mr Saunders guilty of bringing the sport of boxing into disrepute and have fined him the sum of £100,000 and issued a severe reprimand as to his future conduct.”
Saunder issued a full apology on Monday evening and confirmed that he plans to take measures in helping to combat domestic violence, with the boxer admitting he gave no thought to how his actions would affect others – particularly those who have suffered from domestic violence.
“I would like to address the situation at hand,” Saunders said in an official statement issued on Monday evening. “Let me firstly start by apologising. There is no excuse for my actions.
“It was a very. Very bad out-of-taste joke, I am a God-fearing man and I do not condone domestic violence under any circumstances.
“When I created the video in poor taste, I never considered how people might interpret it and instead was trying to make light of the very stressful situation we have all found ourselves in and the heightened emotions of families being confined to each other’s company.
Saunders has said he will host workshops and seminars for domestic violence victims
“It did not cross my mind about the actual reality of domestic violence and its sufferers and the second I realised it could cause upset I quickly took the video down, but unfortunately with the way social media works, it spread like wildfire. I can’t change that, I have and do wholeheartedly apologise.
“I can only take actions to help people, and will be making a donation from my next fight purse to a British domestic violence charity to help victims and prevent future victims of domestic abuse. I will also host some self-defence workshops and seminars for survivors and current or potential sufferers of domestic violence.
“Unfortunately I can’t take the video back, but I can do my bit to help people who suffer or have suffered and become part of the public voice to prevent domestic violence and change future generations’ attitudes and that’s what I am committed to doing.”