Canelo-Saunders post-fight notes

Surgery for Billy Joe; Alvarez-Plant next?; Andrade unwelcome

ARLINGTON, Texas — Billy Joe Saunders underwent surgery on Sunday to repair multiple fractures to his right orbital bone at the hands of Canelo Alvarez during their super middleweight world title unification fight on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Before a United States indoor record boxing crowd of 73,126, Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs), 30, of Mexico, had a dominating eighth round in which he nailed a crouching Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs), a 31-year-old southpaw, with a flush right uppercut that did major damage around his eye.

After the fight, Alvarez said he felt the punch dig into Saunders’ face and thought he broke his cheek, and that he did not think he would continue.

Although Saunders made it to the end of the round, the eye was in bad shape and trainer Mark Tibbs informed referee Mark Calo-oy that he was stopping the fight with Saunders on the stool. Saunders was trailing on all three scorecards, 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75 at the time of the stoppage.

Saunders did not speak to the media after the fight and was instead taken immediately to John Peter Smith Hospital in nearby Fort Worth, where he had surgery the following day.

On Monday, a Matchroom Boxing spokesman told Fight Freaks Unite that the company’s medical expert, Dr. Rod Ballelos, was in touch with Saunders’ team and was told the “surgery went well” and that Saunders is recovering but it not certain yet when he will be released to fly home to England.

Canelo-Plant next?

As he had done before the fight, four-division world champion Alvarez, now owner of the WBC, WBA and WBO belts, made it crystal clear after stopping Saunders that he next wants to fight IBF titlist Caleb Plant for the undisputed title.

There has never been an undisputed 168-pound world champion in the three- or four-belt era and Alvarez has made achieving that his short-tem goal.

Alvarez’s two-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn ended with the Saunders fight as did his obligations to broadcaster DAZN, meaning he is free to pursue the Plant fight without promotional or network issues, although he has said he wants to continue working with Hearn.

Hearn, seated next Alvarez at the post-fight news conference, said he is hopeful they will continue their association.

“That’s a conversation obviously to be had with Saul,” said Hearn, referring to Alvarez by his real first name. “I mean, obviously, we had a two-fight deal. It’s been the most incredible experience. I think we’ve done a great job. We all work very well together. Hopefully, we can continue the relationship for a long time.”

Plant fights for Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, which has broadcast deals with Fox and Showtime. Plant has been fighting on Fox. Hearn said that he thinks making a fight between Alvarez and Plant would be straightforward.

“Not complicated,” Hearn said of making an Alvarez-Plant deal. “It’s the beauty of Canelo’s decision to be a network free agent. So, it stops politics, it stops anything from getting in the way. The numbers on DAZN (Saturday night) were absolutely astronomical. They’re gonna have to, and they will, make a huge offer for that fight. Fox will also make a huge offer for that fight.

“But he’s, you know, he’s free to make the fights that he wants to make, where he wants those fights to happen. So, for me, I think it’s a very straightforward process. I think that process should start immediately, and I don’t see any complications with his position.”

DAZN has invested heavily in Alvarez over his past six fights and would like to retain his services.

Plant (21-0, 12 KOs), 28, of Las Vegas, has made three title defenses and is coming off a shutout decision over former world titlist Caleb Truax on Jan. 30. The mandatory bout was not due yet, but Plant said he opted for Truax to get the mandatory defense out of the way so he would be free later in the year for a possible fight with Alvarez, an opponent he said he wanted to fight.

Andrade crashes Canelo’s presser

What began with WBO middleweight world titlist Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade respectfully calling out Canelo to fight him in the wee hours of Sunday morning at his post-fight news conference quickly degenerated into a shouting match filled with cursing and threats, and ended with Andrade and his father/trainer Paul Andrade being escorted out by security.

Andrade was in the back of the media room and after Alvarez had answered a few questions, suddenly Andrade, who was wearing a black t-shirt that read, “Canelo & Billy Joe are scared to fight Boo Boo,” piped up.

“So, when can we get something going on? Congratulations,” Andrade began.

When Alvarez realized it was Andrade speaking, he said, “Oh, my God,” and put his head down on the table before flashing Andrade thumbs up and thanking him.

Moments later, the good natured scene suddenly turned for the worse with Alvarez insulting Andrade and eventually telling him and his father, “Get the fuck outta here. Please, get the fuck outta here.”

There was a lot more, which you can read all about right here in my story on RingTV.com, for which I also spoke with Andrade about the situation: https://www.ringtv.com/621625-andrade-gets-booted-from-canelo-post-fight-presser/

Photos: Ed Mulholland and Michelle Farsi/Matchroom Boxing