Billy Joe Saunders branded ‘an embarrassment to boxing’ for ‘quitting’ against Canelo Alvarez by former world champion Fernando Vargas

Billy Joe Saunders was labelled an ‘embarrassment to the sport’ for ‘quitting’ against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez by former middleweight champion Fernando Vargas.

The 31-year-old was transported from the AT&T Stadium in Texas for immediate surgery after suffering a complete fracture of his orbital bone - the eye socket.

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Saunders relinquished his WBO super-middleweight world title in the defeat to Alvarez, who cemented his reputation as boxing’s biggest superstar and pound-for-pound king.

Despite the severity of the injury and the brave decision made by Mark Tibbs to pull him out before the ninth round, the Brit has come under intense scrutiny from former super-welterweight champion Vargas.

The hard-hitting Californian retired with a record of 22-5 and held both the IBF and WBA titles in his career, but had no remorse for Saunders and his performance on Saturday night.

“You're really going to freaking quit like a V, like a vagina,” Vargas said on Instagram, tagging a wounded Saunders in his video rant.

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“You're really going to do that? ‘Oh, my eye.’ Come on, Vato [Spanish slang for a man], really? Unbelievable. How dare you call yourself a champion? 

“You quit like a female dog. How dare you do that? You’re an embarrassment to the sport and to all men because you're not even a man. You should be embarrassed!”

He continued his scathing assessment in an Instagram post, accompanying his harsh words with a picture of his grotesquely swollen eye from his brutal fighting career.

“Vatos like me are just BUILT DIFFERENT than you. Vatos that say you will 'DIE IN THE RING,' and end up quitting for a little scratch or cut in your eye,” Vargas added.

'What are you Vatos doing in the sport?'

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It was a relatively even fight before Camelo detonated a powerful right uppercut into the face of a ducking Saunders and he knew the end was near as he beckoned to the 73,000-strong crowd in Arlington.

Speaking in the ring immediately after the fight, a jubilant Alvarez said: “I said it would be around round eight. 

“I think I broke his cheek and I knew he wasn't going to come out. 

“I told my corner he's not coming out because I broke his cheek. It was not as difficult as I expected and that is because of my preparation. I have the best trainer, I prepare. He says ‘do this’ and I do it.”