Billy Joe Saunders was immediately taken to hospital following his defeat to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez with a suspected fractured orbital bone.
Saunders was unable to continue after the eighth round in Arlington, Texas with Canelo walking away the unified WBO, WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine super-middleweight champion.
The Mexican connected with a savage blow that saw Saunders’ right eye immediately swell up. The Briton was unable to return from his corner for the ninth round with trainer Mark Tibbs pulling his man out.
Footage shared by broadcaster DAZN showed Saunders being helped into a waiting ambulance to be transported to a nearby medical facility.
In his post-fight interview, Canelo said he felt the damage he had inflicted on Saunders wth that vicious right hand.
‘I knew it, I think I broke his cheek and I knew he would not come out,’ he said. ‘I told his corner he would not come out because I broke his cheek.’
Saunders was immediately taken backstage after the fight ended with promoter Eddie Hearn explaining his trainer would not allow his man back out, such was the extent of the damage to his eye.
‘He couldn’t see,’ Hearn said. ‘I spoke to Mark Tibbs, he said he couldn’t see and he wouldn’t let him go out. He busted his eye socket.’
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from metro.co.uk
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