Billy Joe Saunders suspended following video advising men ‘how to hit women’

Footage emerged of WBO super middleweight champion describing how to ‘hit her on the chin’ and ‘finish her off’

Billy Joe Saunders has been suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control over a video in which he “advised” men “how to hit” their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown.

Footage emerged showing the WBO super middleweight world champion hitting a punchbag while talking about how to react if “your old woman is giving you mouth” and “she’s coming at you, spitting a bit of venom in your face”. Saunders then described how to “hit her on the chin” and “finish her off”.

A statement released by the BBBoC read: ”The British Boxing Board of Control having considered comments made by Billy Joe Saunders on social media have suspended his boxer’s licence pending a hearing under the board’s misconduct regulation, at a time and venue to be confirmed as soon as possible.”

Saunders issued an apology for “offending any women” after a fierce backlash on social media, writing that he “would never condone domestic violence and if I saw a man touch a woman I would smash him to pieces myself”.

The 30-year-old, who was close to agreeing a multi-million-pound bout against Canelo Alvarez in May before the coronavirus pandemic, was previously fined £100,000 by the British Board of Boxing Control after video footage emerged of him offering a woman drugs in October 2018.

A video appeared to show Saunders offering £150 worth of drugs to the woman to perform a sex act, as well as asking her to punch a passer-by, which she did, before driving away.

He was also recently criticised after calling an airline alleging concerns over a potential coronavirus infection, which caused his coach Ben Davison and fellow world champion Josh Taylor to be removed from the flight.