Frank Warren says Billy Joe Saunders will sue over cancelled fight and slams Matchroom as fighter gives up WBO title
The English fighter is taking his case to the Supreme Court, after he was denied a boxing licence over a controversial drugs test
Frank Warren revealed to talkSPORT Billy Joe Saunders plans to launch legal action after being ‘unfairly’ denied a licence for his planned title bout against Demetrius Andrade, leading the British fighter to give up his WBO world middleweight title.
The promoter also blasted rival Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport, who represent Andrade, accusing them of deliberately remaining ‘neutral’ about the situation in order to financially benefit.
Saunders, 29, was scheduled to defend his WBO middleweight world title against Andrade on October 20 in Boston.
However, the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the bout after Saunders failed a voluntary drugs test.
Warren has called foul play on the decision, insisting the stimulant oxilofrine – claimed to be from a nasal spray – is allowed out of competition and that Saunders has subsequently tested clean several times since.
Saunders has given up his WBO belt to challenge the decision and Warren has told talkSPORT that he plans to take his case to the Supreme Court to sue for a loss of income, with his fighter missing out on a multi-million dollar payday as a result of the decision.
Warren explained: “The Massachusetts State Athletic commission, whose jurisdiction the fight takes place under, at their hearing yesterday they had said they had grounds for denial of his application for a license.
“They referred to a prohibited list which is published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and they applied that to deny him a licence.
“But the test was done by VADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. The substance they found in their test is prohibited by them, but under WADA it is allowed out of competition, which is up until the day before the fight.
“It was a nasal spray!
“VADA bans everything. They are not recognised in Great Britian, they are not recognised by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and they are not recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control.
“Massachusetts have not even applied their own disciplinary regulations correctly, so obviously Bill will appeal and the appeal will go to the Supreme Court. He will be suing them for any loss of earnings.
“The tests they are referring to took place in August, but since then Bill has had subsequent tests which have all come back negative. It’s ridiculous. It’s stupid where we are at with this."
Andrade will now face Namibian fighter Walter Kautondokwa, instead of Saunders, for the WBO belt on October 20.
But Warren believes Matchroom could have done more to help his fighter, adding: “If the fight was taking place in the UK, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Can we take it somewhere else? I would if I was the promoter, but I’m not, the promoter is Matchroom.
“Their fighter is Andrade who is challenging, so they want to keep it there because it keeps Bill out.
"It stops Bill from getting paid quite a substantial purse and they can bring this guy in from Africa [Namibian fighter Walter Kautondokwa has replaced Saunders for the fight, which is going ahead in Boston] who they are probably paying $100,000, so it suits them financially.
“They have said publicly they were supporting Bill and they wanted the fight, yet I’ve got a letter from them privately saying they were going to be neutral on the position.
“From a business perspective I see where they are at, but it’s not fair on Billy Joe Saunders that he has defended his title three or four times and he’s in this position.”