Billy Joe Saunders vs Martin Murray – Who wins and why?
WBO World super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14KOs) defends his title for the second time to Martin Murray (39-5-1, 17KOs) on December 4 at The SSE Arena at Wembley.
BBN asked their panel of experts, made up professionals from the boxing world, who they believe wins this fantastic domestic dust-up and why?
Kieran Gething
Welsh Area super-lightweight champion
"BJS is the only one that wins this, unless Murray pulls one from his ankles and gets lucky!
I like Murray, but BJS is another level!"
Jamie Arlain
British Challenge belt champion
"For me, it’s Billy Joe to stop Martin Murray in the late rounds.
I just think Billy is younger, fitter, and it will show in later rounds."
Tino Bellot
Three-weight National amateur champion
"I like both fighters, but I’m not really a fan of this fight. Billy Joe has been mentioning the likes of Callum Smith and Canelo Alvarez yet he chooses to fight Martin Murray. With that being said, I reckon Billy Joe will win this fight comfortably and maybe even force a late stoppage."
Tim Rickson
BBN Editor
"I'm glad that this fight has finally been made, third time around. Fans are disappointed, but they don't understand that a lot of fighters are tied up, plus all of the travel restrictions and difficulties in place currently… I personally think it's a good match-up and makes perfect sense. I'll be watching anyway.
Teak-tough Martin Murray has a strong chance against anyone, but he's 38 now and hasn't fought for a little while. I think that he'll be good against anyone for a long amount of time, but I think Billy Joe will be fitter and smarter to cruise towards a points victory.
It's always a lottery as to what version of BJS will turn up to a fight, but now he's back with Mark Tibbs, with the Canelo fight slipping away from him, I think he'll turn up as fit as ever, produce a stunning performance to make a statement and tell everyone that he's not done yet. You can tell that he wants one big legacy-making fight to end his career with, such as Canelo or Callum Smith, so he should really put it in for this fight and make everyone sit up and pay attention.
I think Saunders wins on points."
Anish parekh
BBN Writer
"A scroll through Martin Murray's Boxrec tells you everything you need to know about the man from Saint Helens. He has fought some of the best of his generation and was competitive with them all in losing efforts.
Sturm, Martinez, Golovkin, Abraham and Groves were all confronted with problems posed by Murray but ultimately overcame them.
However, I find it ironic that the challenger has far superior names on his record than the champion who he will soon challenge.
Saunders is a fighter who is unquestionably talented. A two-weight champion with silky skills and an avant garde personality. Arguably his most famous win is against the hard-hitting David Lemieux, where he danced around the ring effortlessly and picked off his plodding opponent enroute to a lopsided decision.
However, Lemieux is nowhere near the calibre of the four best opponents that Murray has faced and that is a damn shame.
Understandably, the coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption to the boxing industry, but it is still frustrating that Saunders is competing against fringe level opponents that do not push him to the limit.
Whilst I expect Saunders to outbox and defeat Murray, it will likely be another uninspired outing which does little to justify the hype that he received following his beat down of Lemieux almost three years ago.
The question isn't about whether he can beat a game but limited Murray but rather when will Saunders finally fulfil or at least test that exciting potential that he displayed in resplendent fashion against Lemieux almost three years ago?
Now at the mature age of 31, Saunders needs to show us sooner rather than later."
Ace Adam
Unbeaten super-middleweight
"I think Billy Joe Saunders outmanoeuvres Martin Murray to win this fight."
Daniel Smith
BBN Writer
"Murray needs to be swift and vicious out of the traps, breathing down Billy-Joe’s neck like a middleweight menace and bully in his prime.
Saunders cannot be allowed to settle, to find a rhythm, to dictate a single minute of any round, for he will certainly punish the Saints man, not rationing one ounce of his ring I.Q and ferocity in the process.
I’m going with Billy-Joe Saunders, however, for Murray to cause an upset would be a Cinderella man tale for the British boxing books."
Dee the Hat
Boxing trainer
"I think it’s a clear victory for Billy Joe.
Martin has operated at the very top level and always acquitted himself well there. But for me Billy Joe is just too complete a fighter."
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