Billy Joe Saunders vs. Arthur Akavov RBR.

Yeah, I agree. I like BJS and think he's a terrific talent but, man, he needs to take his sport more seriously. There's no point having the talent if you don't give that talent the body required to express it. He was very quick to apologise, like he knew deep down he'd not put in the hard yards, although it does sound like his camp was not without its complications. Hope this fight is a wake up call for him....

 

Frank Warren lacks Barry's. That's genetics for you....

 

I tried to warn all these idiots that Akavov was really good and one of the top middleweights. CST80 you got my back on that?
It is impressive that BJS could win vs a fighter of that caliber despite being terribly out of shape and rusty as hell.

 

Do you guys think this weight issue could be a problem for Saunders going forward? Apparently he drains himself a lot to make 160lb.

 

I respect Saunders for acknowledging his mistakes the way he did tbh, Hes not been taking this seriously enough but i do think hes the type of guy who will now go away and start taking things seriously. I can't say the same about tyson tho.

 

Ah ok he looked fat you say,just shows then that making weight is not the same as making ones fighting weight,really sounds like he thought he could not train and eat all year without going soft,boxing is as much a mental thing as well and I fear this long lay off and poor showing could set him back permenantly.

 

He's only drained because hes cutting a shite load of weight very quick because he lets him self balloon up, That's the only reason hes struggling with the weight, its not his body, if it was his body he would be ripped,billy was still pretty soft. When you cut weight that quick your not just loosing fat your loosing muscle mass too and thus strength and stamina. When you cut weight slowly and stay in shape you maintain your strength and muscle mass and don't have to have a harsh training camp.

 

BJS is one of the lazy trainers who might have benefited from an early defeat, like if the Ryder decision had gone against him - which many thought it should have. He's got this far on talent alone - which is impressive in its own way - but an early loss might have snapped him out of his comfort zone. Is it too late now for this leopard to change his spots? It just might be....

 

I said earlier, a fully-focused and hard training BJS who had lived the life 24/7 from day one of his career, could make LMW...

 

To be honest I've been as p***** off with Frank Warren as much as Saunders for letting him get to big for his boots and hold onto his belt for a year in the knowledge that he owns a belt that both Canelo and GGG wants so much so that he wasn't prepared to do anything in the mean time and look where it's gotten him and Warren,the BJS that beat Eubank and Lee was so talented but still had loads to improve on such as the latter half of fights but he's actually gone backwards.
I some times wonder about Warren,I know that Eddie Hearn would not allowed this to have happened to one of his charges.

 

What a pitiful performance from BJS, the ****

 

How anyone can make similarities between a ward who trains his Ass off getting into fighting shape with BJS who doesn't give a damn amazes me.

Ward has nothing to apologise for.

 

I rate Billy Joe, he has bags of talent but last night was the worst I've seen him box.

He still got the victory, but he is FAR better than that. Fair play to him for his honesty in the interview after the fight, hopefully this gives him the kick up the arse to live the life. I know he had issues pre-fight in camp, which doesn't help - so whatever has happened with Tibbs, he needs to get it sorted or if it's that bad he needs to look at hooking up with someone like Adam Booth.