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Billy Joe Saunders to defend WBO middleweight title against Demetrius Andrade

Last updated on .From the section Boxingcomments21

Billy Joe Saunders
Billy Joe Saunders won his title against Andy Lee in 2015

WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders will defend his title against American Demetrius Andrade this autumn.

The 28-year-old British fighter's promoter Frank Warren reached an agreement with Andrade's representative Eddie Hearn for the bout on Wednesday.

Both are unbeaten and the fight could take place in October in the US, said Hearn.

"Money talks. The deal got done," said Andrade, 30. "Now it's my time to do what I've been wanting to do."

Warren and Hearn reached an agreement just before a purse bid for the fight was set to take place.

In June, Saunders pulled out of a world title bout against fellow Briton Martin Murray after injuring his hamstring.

The fight had already been postponed before that when Saunders suffered a hand injury, and Murray called the former Olympian a "hypocrite".

Saunders last title defence was in December when he outclassed David Lemieux in Canada and then demanded a unification bout with Kazakh Gennady Golovkin who holds the WBA, WBC, and IBO middleweight titles.

"Both us and him were happy with the terms and think he wins the fight whether it's here or in Andrade's back garden," wrote Warren on Twitter. "As he showed against Lemieux he's not fazed by a trip away.

"We fancy this fight big time and it's the right money so that's he's prepared to travel."

Frank Warren's tweet confirming the fightBilly Joe Saunders tweeted to predict he will remain the champion with a picture of the US flag

"Hopefully, we can put the fight in my hometown (of Providence, Rhode Island)," Andrade told ESPN. "When you have the financing behind you, you can make deals. This is the type of team I needed in my career. Better now than never. I put myself in a great position."

Hearn signed Andrade, a southpaw like Saunders who fought at the 2008 Olympics, two weeks ago.

He has not boxed since he moved up to middleweight and beat Alantez Fox in a one-sided decision in October.

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21 comments

  • Comment posted by U15799153, at 12:52 26 Jul 2018

    I fear BJS may pull out of this fight with a badly torn sock.

  • Comment posted by Jake2703, at 12:12 26 Jul 2018

    The fight "could" take place in the US in October...could being the key word, because with BJS "injury" record & pulling out of bouts it may not occur.

  • Comment posted by Tommy, at 11:45 26 Jul 2018

    Saunders is in danger of becoming the forgotten man of British boxing. Perhaps this fight will raise his profile and he can get into some big money matches.

  • Comment posted by topcharlie, at 12:18 26 Jul 2018

    Blimey, thats a big fight out of nowhere.

    2 guys who for whatever reason arent where they should be depsite being unbeaten.

    Shame it wont get the hype it warrants.

    Interested to see if Andrade is the boy we all thought he was. NOthing in his record to dispute it yet.

    Im excited, 2 hungry and experienced boxers with uch to prove. Winner SHOULD go to the top of the bigtime.

  • Comment posted by eeknowsit, at 11:49 26 Jul 2018

    Tough fight for Saunders and bigger test than Lemieux. If he wins in the US then there will be calls both sides of the Atlantic to face winner of Canelo/Golovkin. It's a big if though. This is a tough match up.

  • Comment posted by Toe2Toe, at 06:58 27 Jul 2018

    BJS pulls out because of injury.

  • Comment posted by welshboyo, at 17:30 26 Jul 2018

    Should be a good fight but the highlight will be the possibility of seeing the two Essex wide boys at ringside clambering over each other for centre ringside seat. Hopefully Barry will be there too just to add a bit of spice.....9

  • Comment posted by Inmyopinion, at 14:16 26 Jul 2018

    why has Saunders effectively avoided Murray who must be fuming?
    why is Groves vs Smith not at Wembley or at least the O2?????? I mean Jeddah!!!

  • Comment posted by Fearless27, at 13:42 26 Jul 2018

    Good to see Warren and Hearn playing ball (even if it was kinda forced due to the impending purse bids). May bode well for Joshua - Fury down the road..... Wonder what the deal is around UK rights (assume it'll be DAZN in the US)? Looks like Hearn is leading and thus it'll be Sky rather than BT/Boxnation.

  • Comment posted by U16523421, at 13:22 26 Jul 2018

    Bye Bye BJS.
    Hopefully Golvokin will dispose of Awyp Alvarez and then he can fight Andrade for the set of belts. After that, he should probably retire as he is not getting any younger.

  • Comment posted by U16905854, at 15:52 27 Jul 2018

    Good match up come on bjs

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 16:14 26 Jul 2018

    A lot of people on here talking about the Murray fight(s), as BJS did pull out twice. OK, his reasons were a bit suspicious, but he would have outboxed Murray without too much trouble. That fight was just to keep BJS ticking over. Andrade hasn't fought anyone of real note and has mainly fought down at 154lbs. He will be out of his depth at 160lbs against Saunders.

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 14:00 26 Jul 2018

    Groves v Smith on Sept 28th in Jeddah. I wonder what size crowd that will get?

  • Comment posted by TonyH, at 11:55 26 Jul 2018

    For #1 (Tommy) well, Saunders' style makes him forgettable. No help that he missed 2 Murray fights due to 'injury', the suspicion being he really wanted a payday v Golovkin, even if it means getting a battering. He'll beat this guy though, (unbeaten, but only met 2 guys we've heard of), then presumably join the Q 4 GGG, assuming he beats Canelo in Sept (should, assuming Judge Byrd elsewhere?!).

  • Comment posted by Markos50, at 20:59 26 Jul 2018

    Billy Joe Boring.....he just does not have the class of those who have gone before

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 19:34 26 Jul 2018

    @17 Hearn v Warren would be PPV. As Hearn is promoter, he gets to choose the referee, so I expect Terry Marsh to officiate. Expect fireworks and some loud bangs. Warren to bite the bullet in the 3rd round.

  • Comment posted by HAM5TA, at 17:26 26 Jul 2018

    Boring

  • Comment posted by Dave Day, at 14:01 26 Jul 2018

    Could be a stinker

  • Comment posted by jimmythehat, at 12:56 26 Jul 2018

    Best boxer we have by a clear margin

  • Comment posted by marcus j, at 14:12 26 Jul 2018

    Id back any british fighter against americans. We want it more than them and they are all mouth no action. But i hope someone knocks saunders out cause he is a right plump isnt he.

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