Billy Joe Saunders vs Martin Murray result: BJS moves to 30-0 with comfortable unanimous decision win, wants Canelo Alvarez next

Billy Joe Saunders defended his WBO super-middleweight title with a wide unanimous decision win over Martin Murray on Saturday night in London.

The champion dominated the majority of the bout and retained his belt with relative ease.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Saunders won despite not being at his best

The fight began with an uneventful opening two rounds.

BJS started on the front foot, but neither man had much early success as they sized each other up.

Saunders significantly increased his output in round three as he found a home for his left uppercut.

Murray had no answer for the combinations of Saunders and was floored in the fourth.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

BJS’ southpaw jab was key in the right

The referee ruled no knockdown and cited a slip, but replays appeared to indicate he’d made the wrong decision as two straight lefts hurt the 38-year-old before he fell.

The middle rounds featured further dominance from Saunders as Murray looked his age.

By round eight, Murray was clearly frustrated and talking to both Billy Joe and the referee regularly throughout the round.

A low blow from Saunders infuriated his opponent, but no point was taken and the fight resumed.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

The pair shared respect at the final bell

Murray’s body work was his strong point in the fight, but as they entered the championship rounds it was clear that the champion was well in front and on course to comfortably defend his WBO world title.

Saunders saw out the win by busting up a tired Murray for the final minutes.

The scores were then read out as a unanimous decision in his favour: 120-109, 120-109, 118-110.

Saunders said post-fight: “I tried to set a rhythm but he’s a cunning old fox.

“It’s not a performance I’m gonna be shouting people’s names about.

“The main thing is I’m 30-0, let’s see if I can make a big fight, get up for it and put a shift in.

“It was a clear knockdown, if that was called a knockdown I would’ve adjusted a bit differently and maybe got the finish.

“It’s very important now for me to stay in the gym.

“I just turned 31, I feel like I’m in my prime.

“Let’s get the big names out there, obviously Canelo and Smith’s out there, Andrade’s out there…

“Everyone wants Canelo, I hope Smith beats him. If not, that’s the fight in the new year I want.”

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Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “We were one day away from the press conference for Canelo against billy Joe Saunders.

“The pandemic hit and the fight got cancelled.

“Now it’s important the momentum continues. He’s gotta be a pro now, he’s gotta be ready.

“We can’t waste the opportunity to see how good he is.

“Canelo, Golovkin, Andrade, Smith – it’s got to be one of them next. He will fight anyone.”

Murray indicated in his post-fight interview that he will most likely now retire from the sport.