Saunders set for sugery with facial fractures after Canelo fight
Billy Joe Saunders will have surgery after suffering fractures to his "orbital area" after loss to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Canelo won by TKO in the eighth.
Billy Joe Saunders will undergo surgery on multiple facial fractures following his defeat to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Canelo added the WBO belt to his collection thanks to a brutal eighth-round TKO against the previously undefeated Saunders in Arlington, Texas on Saturday.
Fight called after Canelo uppercut
The Mexican landed a savage uppercut to the face of Saunders and the fight was waved off before the start of the ninth as the 30-year-old superstar improved to 56-1-2.
Saunders was taken to hospital immediately after the fight and Hearn has confirmed he will require surgery to a series of fractures around his eye socket.
Hearn tweeted: "Just at hospital in Dallas, @bjsaunders_ stayed in overnight. Suffered multiple fractures to orbital area and will undergo surgery this afternoon."
Record setting 73,000 in attendance at AT&T
The largest crowd for an indoor boxing event in United States history – 73,216 – gathered at AT&T Stadium for the blockbuster unification showdown and Canelo enhanced his growing legacy.
Speaking afterwards, Canelo said he knew the fight would be called off after inflicting serious damage to Saunders' face.
"I knew this would be final outcome," Canelo told DAZN. "I knew it. I think I broke his cheek and knew he wasn't coming out of the corner.
"I told Eddie [Hearn] he wasn't coming out because I broke his cheek. I knew it was it."