| 22d
WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing.
Saunders, who has won all 28 of his professional contests, amicably parted company with Frank Warren earlier this month and it was confirmed on Tuesday morning he had joined Eddie Hearn's stable.
The Hertfordshire southpaw's decision moves him closer to bouts against fellow Matchroom fighters Callum Smith and Demetrius Andrade as well as Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, both of whom fight on streaming network DAZN, which has close ties with Hearn.
Happy to announce my new Journey with @MTKGlobal @EddieHearn @DAZN_USA @MatchroomBoxing 🔥✅ all or Fu&k all ✅☝️ pic.twitter.com/w7POSwmxA3 — billyjoesaunders (@bjsaunders_) August 13, 2019
The two-weight world champion said: "This move is going to benefit me massively. Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing can put me right out on the branch for those big fights.
"I'm on Golovkin and Canelo's turf. I've made this move to make them fights because I'm sick of hearing their excuses. Those fights make financial sense and they make sense because we're on the same network.
"I will go where the big fights are and I can fluctuate between middle and super-middle. If the big fights are at middleweight then I'll have them at middle. If they're at super-middleweight then I'll have them at super.
"I'm a world champion at super-middle so if anyone wants to come and try to win a belt then I've got one of the most recognised belts out there and I'm open to big offers."
Hearn added: "Everyone in boxing knows how good Billy is and now he is going to get the chance to prove it against the elite.
"He holds a world title at 168 but can also make 160 comfortably and when you look at the fighters we work with across our platforms, this was an obvious link up.
"Fighters need to be motivated with regular dates and solid deliverable plans – now Billy finally has that you will see him shine on both sides of the Atlantic."
