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Billy Joe Saunders BANNED from boxing for ‘idiotic’ video as he tells talkSPORT: ‘It was a silly mistake… I’m sorry’
Billy Joe Saunders admitted to talkSPORT he made a 'silly mistake' as he was banned from boxing until further notice after making a video in which he instructed men on how to hit their partners.
The British Boxing Board of Control announced on Monday afternoon that the two-weight world champion's licence has been suspended, pending a future hearing, following the emergence of the clip (above).
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A brief statement from the governing body said: "The British Boxing Board of Control having considered comments made by Billy Joe Saunders on social media have suspended his boxer's licence pending a hearing under the board's misconduct regulation, at a time and venue to be confirmed as soon as possible."
In the video, Saunders showed how to pull off a right hand ‘on the chin’ and a left hook ‘to finish her off’ should your partner be ‘giving you a little bit of mouth’ during the coronavirus lockdown.
Eddie Hearn, Saunders' promoter, was extremely critical of the Hertfordshire-born southpaw when he joined talkSPORT's Sports Breakfast on Monday.
“I was appalled,” said the Matchroom chief. “It was so idiotic.
“It was so frustrating because I know Billy well; it’s one step forward, four steps back with Billy Joe Saunders and it is frustrating.
“You just can’t do it, especially when you’re in your position. It’s unacceptable for Joe Bloggs down the street to do it. It’s much more unacceptable for a world champion boxer to be doing it.
“Thinking you’re having a laugh, or not having a laugh, young people are watching that video. People who are in abusive relationships are watching that video. You cannot do it, it’s unacceptable.”
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Saunders also joined talkSPORT on Monday to apologise for his actions and revealed he would be donating £25,000 to a domestic violence charities.
“First of all, I’ve apologised on social media and I just want to say sorry again for everyone I’ve offended,” said Saunders on White and Sawyer.
“I looked at it as a bit of a joke at first – I obviously wasn’t thinking right – but looking back at it now I can clearly see the destruction it has caused among the women suffering from domestic violence.
“It was a silly mistake but I didn’t intentionally mean to cause harm to anyone and I certainly wouldn’t promote domestic violence.”
Asked by talkSPORT host Jim White if he believed anyone laughed at the video, Saunders - who says he made the clip as 'a bit of a joke' - replied: “Oh, clearly not. But I also didn’t mean for anyone to get intentionally upset about it.
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Billy Joe Saunders apologises for his social media post that appeared to condone domestic violence
“There are people dying all around the world with coronavirus and I tried to take the heat off that a little bit by cheering everybody up – but it clearly hasn’t done it.
“My sense of humour is not everyone’s cup of tea.
“I can only take it back and apologise for it; I’ve spoken to my manager and among other things I will be donating £25,000 to support domestic violence charities.
“It is clearly a silly thing to do and I can’t take it back.”
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