Photos by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Billy Joe Saunders (21-0, 11 KOs) scored a tough split decision victory over previously unbeaten Chris Eubank Jr. (18-0, 13 KOs) in a 12-round Middleweight fight at the ExCel Arena in London, United Kingdom.
The fight was the co-main event of a card presented by Queensberry Promotions, BoxNation, and ESPN 3.
Saunders, 25, Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom scored an early lead with an accurate jab that Eubank had no answers for.
Eubank, 25, of Hove, United Kingdom struggled to deal with Saunders’ jab as he countered it with slowly-thrown right uppercuts.
Eubank seemed to want to end the fight with one punch rather than working his way to a decision or knockout.
After getting outboxed by Saunders for five rounds, Eubank began applying more pressure in rounds six, seven, but was struggling to land cleanly.
The fight ended with both fighters looking extremely tired, but with Eubank getting the better of the two as he sought for the desperately-needed knockout in the final round.
Unfortunately for Eubank, it didn’t happen.
Saunders won with scores of 115-114 ad 115-113, while one judge scored the bout 116-113 for Eubank. RBRBoxing,com scored the bout 116-112 for Saunders.
Eubank was disappointed with his loss and believed he had won, despite showing serious inability to score points against a defensive fighter.
Saunders, despite admitting he has things to work on, says he’s ready to fight for the WBO Middleweight title.
The vacant WBO Middleweight title will be contested between Matt Korobov and Andy Lee on December 13.
