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Billy Joe Saunders considering retirement aged 32 but would fight Chris Eubank Jr one last time for ‘right money’

A FINAL showdown with Chris Eubank Jr could tempt Billy Joe Saunders before the two-weight world champ hangs up his gloves.

At 32, the Brit has outlined his plans to spend more time with his family having achieved his boxing dream.

Billy Joe Saunders suffered defeat to Canelo Alvarez in his last fight

Saunders won the WBO middleweight title in 2015 before swooping for the super-middleweight belt four years later, in a career that has not gone without controversy but has racked up a 30-1 record.

A serious eye injury suffered in his last fight, a defeat to Canelo Alvarez, sparked rumours of retirement.

But a rematch with Eubank Jr, after he won by a split decision in their 2014 contest, could still be on the cards.

Saunders told talkSPORT: “Obviously the fans have been good to me, they’ve supported me along the way.

“I know it is a fan’s fight really, it’s not really a fight I would look or need to take.

“I’m financially secure, done it all, ticked all the boxes from Southern Area to two-weight world champion.

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“So it’s a fight that would interest me if the money was right and I would do it more for the fans than anything.

“I’ve got kids now and I’ve secured their future, but put them on a path and give them a bit of time rather than gloves and a ring.”

Saunders retained the European, British, and Commonwealth belts with his victory in the capital almost seven years ago.

It was the 31-year-old’s first of two career defeats to date and Eubank Jr returns to the ring in November to face Sven Elbir.

Although the rematch would excite the fans, the ex-IBO champ has asserted that Saunders wants £5million to do battle.

Eubank Jr claimed: “The funny thing is he’s not in a position to be demanding anything.

“He has no belt, he has no credibility in the sport after quitting against Canelo after saying he’d die before taking a knee in the ring.

“He lambasted Daniel Dubois after an eye injury, a real eye injury. There was nothing wrong with Saunders, he got a blackeye but there was no smashed orbital bone, there was no broken eye socket, there was no proof of that – that was all a sham.

“That’s why he’s been MIA for the last few months because of the shame in what he did.

“He has no credibility, he has no power in the sport so he can’t be saying he wants £5m, he’ll get what he’s given. I’m the A-side and once he understands that we can talk.”


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