Billy Joe Saunders back in the gym to ‘shift some timber’ ahead of potential boxing comeback
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Billy Joe Saunders reveals he’s back in the gym ‘shifting some wood’ after heaping the pounds after his defeat to Canelo Alvarez… as the former two-weight world champion sees a comeback in the ring
- Billy Joe Saunders lost to Canelo Alvarez in May 2021 and hasn’t fought since
- Saunders has admitted he gained a lot of weight during his spare time
- He is now back in the gym to lose weight and get back in shape
- He’s looking to return to the ring later this year or early 2023
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Former world champion boxer Billy Joe Saunders has revealed that he is back training twice a day in an effort to move a significant amount of weight ahead of a possible return to the ring.
Saunders held the WBO middleweight title between 2015 and 2018, before making the move to super middleweight to claim the WBO title in that division in 2019. However, he was defeated by Canelo Alvarez for the first time in his professional career in May 2021, and has not fought since after suffering a fractured orbital bone in that loss.
As he admits, Saunders has put on quite a bit of weight in the last 16 months, with workout footage showing he still has some work to do to put on weight, but he’s now back in the gym and looking forward to a comeback.
Billy Joe Saunders was beaten by Canelo last year and hasn’t fought in the last 16 months
Saunders wants to return to boxing but must ‘shift some wood’ before making his comeback
“I enjoyed a bit of rest and had a good year,” Saunders said Matchroom Boxing.
“I’m starting to get a little bored and my fists itchy, so I decided to do a little training shifting some wood to see where the road will take me. Life is okay, I went to my doctor for a checkup and he was happy.
“The first thing, of course, is your health. It’s pointless boxing whatever you’re boxing for, be it millions or just a pound to come back if that’s not under control, and if I decide, what it seems I will, to come back, then can I.
“It’s nice to train a little bit, and it’s nice to have a clear head and see where I want to go instead of having defenses and stuff and going where other people want me to go. ‘
Saunders suffered a broken orbital bone against Canelo, but has been cleared to return
It seems Saunders isn’t putting too much pressure on himself, and he has said he doesn’t have a specific fight date in mind yet, but could return before the end of 2022.
“I think this year is definitely salable for myself. I am now at the gym twice a day and the weight is coming off and I am getting fitter by the day. It could be at the end of the year or it could be early next year, but we’ll find out soon. It all depends on which opponent is available,” he added.
Saunders has developed a close friendship with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury over the years and trained with the Gypsy King when he made his comeback to boxing in 2018.
Upon his return to the gym, Fury weighed in at about 30 bricks and had to lose about 10 bricks to get back into fighting form.
Saunders trained with Tyson Fury as he made his comeback after gaining weight
Saunders helped him achieve this, as Fury quickly lost weight and had two tuning fights before taking on Deontay Wilder in December 2018.
He earned a draw in that fight – many felt he deserved the win – before beating the American twice in 2020 and 2021.
Saunders can now try to take a similar route back to the top by easing his way back into action before taking on a high profile fight.
Rematches with John Ryder and Chris Eubank Jr have been mooted after Saunders scored close points against the pair in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Saunders may want to set up a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr in the future.