You really don’t see that every day.
The eyes of the boxing world will be on Las Vegas this weekend as purists’ fight of the year between Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez takes centre-stage but, closer to home, Billy Joe Saunders is set to return to the ring.
Saunders will defend his WBO middleweight title against Willie Monroe Jr. at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday night and, as was to be expected, there was an incident at the weigh-ins.
On Friday, both Saunders and his opponent came in at 11st 6lbs for the world title bout but it was the Brit’s son who stole the spotlight.
As the champion and challenger faced off for the media, security was forced to intervene after Saunders’ son stood on the scales and punched Monroe Jr. below the belt.
Words were exchanged between the camps but Monroe Jr. thankfully saw the funny side and laughed it off.
Saunders had the following to say about the bizarre altercation.
My sons been taught when A stranger puts their hands on them they don't know punch and run away self defence @boxnationtv @frankwarren_tv👍🏻
— billyjoesaunders (@bjsaunders_) September 15, 2017
A victory over Monroe Jr. likely sets Saunders up for a monster unification bout against the winner of Golovkin vs. Alvarez and the 28-year-old’s promoter, Frank Warren, suggests that fight could take place before the end of the year.
“It’s the only way the winner of the Golovkin-Canelo fight can unify the titles, and that’s the logical fight,” Warren said, via BBC. “We will make it happen. I’m absolutely confident, we will deliver it.
“If it’s Canelo it’ll be in the States, and if it’s Golovkin we may have a chance of staging it in the UK. If Golovkin wins, it looks like they’ll want to fight some time in December.”
