Philippines, 16 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Billy Joe Saunders 167.3, Murray 167.4 in London, England


PhilBoxing.com




British WBO super middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders will be making the 2nd defense of his belt against compatriot Martin Murray Friday, December 4 (early Saturday in Manila) at the famed Wembley Arena in England.

The champion Saunders weighed-in at 167.3 pounds, while the challenger Murray came-in at 167.4 lbs, both men looking in great shape, ready to rumble. 👍

The clash will be the 2nd world title defense for Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14 KO’s), who comes into this fight with an impeccable undefeated record as well as vast experience.

Notably, Saunders and Murray will climb the ring after a whole year of inactivity, fans wondering if the ring rust factor could affect any of them or both.

Martin Murray (39-5-1, 17 KO’s) is a 38-year-old veteran fighter who has already unsuccessfully contested 3 times for world titles against high-caliber warriors Kazakhstan’s Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, German Arthur Abraham and Argentine Sergio Martínez.

Does Murray have enough in his fighting arsenal to beat Saunders to the punch?


Saunders poses during Thursday's weighin in London.

Fans in the U.K. want to watch Billy Joe Saunders checking his battling quality against a tough matured boxer as Martin Murray; they want to see how the war unfolds and how will it end.

However, to most fans Martin Murray is not a serious threat to Saunders. Many doubt that he can dethrone the trash-taker. But Saunders is a trash-taker who backs his mouth with win after win. Will that be the same today?

Also, Murray lacks explosive punch in his weaponry, plus, at 38 years of age, it’s seems that his best fighting years are in the back mirror.

Opinion: Billy Joe Saunders should win. Because he is the freshest, youngest fighter, with right smarts, outstanding skills, as well as boxing maturity, so I think that once the rust is shaken off, Saunders should impose his quality and power to win comfortably over Murray tomorrow in England, retaining Saunders his 168-pound belt.

Then, should Saunders win as we think, he might be next in line to battle popular Mexican Champion Canelo Alvarez in a super middleweight unification war. That would be an excellent fight, I’m sure.

For that, Canelo needs to beat his December 12 opponent Briton Callum Smith.

Will Canelo and Saunders emerge victorious from their respective battles for them to clash in 2021?

Saunders vs Murray today Friday in London is a promotion of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing live on DAZN.


The author boxing writer Carlos Costa lives in Cebu and can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.