Hearn Wants Saunders To Fully Focus on Canelo, Stay Away From Social Media

Eddie Hearn, promoter for WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, would like to see his boxer stay away from social media – at least for the next three months.

During the last few years, Saunders has been involved in several controversial incidents with respect to items that he personally posted to social media.

Several days ago, it was alleged that Saunders created a social media post which took a dig at Barry McGuigan’s tragic loss of his daughter - in retaliation for McGuigan’s recent critical comments on Saunders’ adviser, Daniel Kinahan, during a BBC documentary.

Saunders and his handlers denied the allegations, strongly stating that the social media post in question had absolutely nothing to do with McGuigan or his family.

Saunders’ behavior on social media is certainly worrying to members of his team, because the unbeaten boxer has a very lucrative fight on the table.

If Canelo Alvarez defeats his mandatory challenger, Avni Yildirim, on February 27 in Florida – then the Mexican superstar will stake his WBC, WBA super middleweight titles against Saunders on May 8th.

Hearn wants Saunders to turn his back on social media and focus his full energy on preparing for the high profile unification with Canelo.

“I think Billy should just delete social media really. It’s difficult because I think sometimes, and he’s brought a lot of it on himself, he’s portrayed a certain way and that doesn’t help him. He also finds it difficult to express his feelings and what he means when he’s trying to justify himself,” Hearn said to The Sun.

“Ultimately, all being well, Billy Joe Saunders is fighting Canelo Alvarez in one of the biggest fights of the year and the rest is over to him. I can’t babysit him, I can’t hold his hand. That’s it. That’s it for him. He either becomes a legend of British boxing that night or loses his world championship.

“The stage of me holding his hand and trying to guide him through how to behave on social media and how not to behave, it’s gone too far for that now. Not because of his reputation but it’s too late in the day to change Billy Joe Saunders. He is what he is. He’s an outstanding fighter so let’s see how outstanding he is. On May 8, we’ll find that out.

“Let’s get Billy Joe Saunders doing what he’s good at, which is fighting. And not having to explain himself or getting the hump with people. He just has to go out there and try and beat the pound-for-pound number one.”