Former middleweight champion of the world Billy Joe Saunders had been due to check the gloves of Chris Eubank Jr but things got physical backstage.
He was pulled away from entering the Eubank Jr dressing room by members of security.
It wasn’t exactly clear as to went on, but speaking to Ring Magazine afterwards, Saunders said:
“No, it’s not frustrating for me. At the end of the day, the result doesn’t matter to me. I was asked to do a job, I went there, and they were outside. I always knew Eubank wouldn’t let me in his dressing room. The altercation was better off happening outside before we got in, so the boxing board could step in and handle it. It’s all good fun, just banter. It’ll be a good night of boxing, like I said.”
Well, that’s how that particular glove inspection ended before it got started.
Saunders was hugely received with many cheers in the stadium on the night and seemed to be everywhere on social media afterwards as well.
He hadn’t been about at big boxing events in some time it seemed.
Good to see him back near the boxing circuit around big fights.
Interesting to see again if he ever fights again or will he stay involved in boxing in some capacity.
A very razor sharp, fast, intelligent fighter when he trained and was focused and was champion of the world.
His punching power also came on later in his career, speed kills and his timing, precision and form later in his career lead to much harder digs then when he was throwing shots at the start of his professional boxing career.
Alas, he appears to be retired for now but never say never.
England’s Billy Joe Saunders has a professional boxing record of 30-1-14 KO.
He is a two-weight world champion in the sport winning the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight title previously.