Billy Joe Saunders to make first defence of WBO world title on October 22 at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders will make his first defence of his world title on October 22 in Cardiff.
The 27-year-old, who last fought in December 2015 when he won the belt after defeating Andy Lee on points, is scheduled for a return to the ring at the Motorpoint Arena.
However, he has just four weeks to prepare for the fight, and as yet does not know who his opponent will be.
Last December, Saunders defeated Lee to take his WBO crown in a close and absorbing fight in Manchester that saw the Hatfield star floor the Irishman twice in the third round and go on to claim a majority decision from the judges.
The skillful, hard-hitting, southpaw knows it is vital that he makes a successful maiden defence of his WBO crown if he is to remain on track to meet middleweight monster Gennady Golovkin, who holds the WBA Super, IBF and WBC titles, in a mouth-watering blockbuster clash with all the titles on the line in the New Year.
Twenty-seven year-old Saunders is delighted to be making his long-awaited return to the ring and is promising Cardiff fight fans an explosive performance.
“I can’t wait to shake the cobwebs off and get back in there where I belong; it’s been too long,” said Saunders.
“Every fight is dangerous at this stage so it is important that I don’t overlook or underestimate anybody. I have worked long and hard to get where I am today and there is some huge fights out there for me.
“I need to take care of this fight and then I’ll move on to bigger and better things. I’m fully focused on the job in hand and putting on an explosive performance down in Cardiff. I can’t wait to get this show on the road.”
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Saunders, 23-0 12 KOs, joins a sensational five-title fight card that features Welsh hero Liam Williams defending his British Super-Welterweight title against undefeated Londoner Ahmet Patterson.
Also on the bill is Penge star Bradley Skeete who makes a mandatory defence of his British Welterweight crown against Manchester’s Shayne Singleton, Baggies bomber Tommy Langford challenging for the Vacant British Middleweight strap and Liverpool’s Tom Stalker making the first defence of his WBO European Lightweight title against Welshman Craig Evans.
The show will be broadcast live and exclusive on .