Boxing: Saunders and Eubank set for showdown

Chris Eubank Jr has traded insults with Billy Joe Saunders but now its time to put up or shut up. Picture: Getty

Saunders will put his European middleweight title on the line for the first time, having beaten Emanuele Blandamura last time out at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester.

Saunders, who competed for Britain at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, has won all 20 of his professional contests, with 11 in the scheduled distance, but will be given a stern test by Eubank Jr, with whom he has traded insults in the past.

The son of the former two-weight world champion of the same name is currently 17-0, with 12 stoppage wins, and has recently been training with pound-for-pound superstar Floyd Mayweather.

While Saunders was hoping to challenge for a world title, his promoter Frank Warren has confirmed he will get to set the record straight in an all-British blockbuster showdown which could act as an eliminator for the WBO middleweight title.

Warren said: “This is a fabulous fight between two undefeated British fighters and it has all the ingredients to be a thriller.

“Both men have wanted the fight and I’m delighted that it’s going to be on the same show as another big domestic feud between Chisora v Fury.

“Saunders has done everything asked of him so far, winning British, Commonwealth, WBO Intercontinental and European titles and as he’s shown, the better the opponent the better he performs.

“This will certainly be the case against the young Eubank Jr and he’ll take his game to another level.

“Eubank Jr is undefeated and has looked sensational on his rise, but now he’s stepping up to the plate to prove that he’s the real thing by facing the best in the division and that’s Saunders.

“Their rivalry has been building up over the last few years and now it’s time for them to lay it all on the line and prove who is the best.

“While it was unfortunate that Saunders missed out on a shot at the WBO world title recently, I’ll be applying to the WBO for this fight to be made an eliminator for the world title. With Chisora v Fury and Saunders v Eubank Jr on the same show, and with even more title fights to be announced over the coming days, this is going to be one big night of boxing in the capital.”