Saunders suspended after social media antics
The BBBofC released the following statement today: The British Boxing Board of Control having considered comments made by Billy Joe Saunders on social media have suspended his boxer’s licence pending a hearing under the Board’s misconduct regulation, at a time and venue to be confirmed as soon as possible.
The decision to act came after a video was released by the two-weight world champion appearing to advise men on how to hit women during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was appalled by one of his newest signings for releasing the "idiotic" video, which was designed, unkowingly or not to promote domestic violence.
The Matchroom boss admitted that his super-middleweight world champion's behaviour was "unacceptable".
Speaking to Talksport, Hearn said: "I haven't spoken to him. I spoke to his management team last night. I was appalled really. It was so idiotic, it was frustrating becaue I know Billy well. He's a really good kid, with a really good heart. He does a lot for the community, he does a lot for charity, but every now and again he does the most stupid things."
Saunders has since apologised for his actions and promised to make a donation to to a domestic abuse charity after receiving death threats.
He siad: "I can oly take it back and apologise. I will be donating £25,000 to support the domestic abuse charity. It was a silly thing to do. I am who I am, I am not going to say I will never make another mistake in my life. I don't intentionally mean to make these mistakes, I didn't have a very good education. I am not intentionally causing the public any harm at all. I only put it put there because I thought it was a laugh, clearly it wasn't."
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