Joe Saunders relinquishes WBO title
Billy Joe Saunders (26-0, 12 KOs) has reportedly vacated his WBO middleweight title, which frees up the belt for Demetrius Andrade and Walter Kautondokwa to fight this month on October 20 in Boston, Mass.
In a statement from the World Boxing Organization president Francisco Valcarcel on Thursday, he says that the 29-year-old Saunders has apologized to the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission following his positive test for the banned performance enhancing substance oxilofrine. Valcarcel is recommending that Saunders be given a 6-month suspension for his positive drug test.
”B.J. Saunders has voluntarily vacated the WBO Middleweight title, and publicly apologized for his violation of the Massachusetts Athletic Commission’s anti-doping regulations,” the WBO president Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel said in a statement on Thursday.
Saunders could wind up with a six-month suspension after the WBO committee votes on his case. Saunders hasn’t fought since last December when he beat David Lemieux by a 12 round unanimous decision. A 6-month suspension by the WBO will keep Saunders out of the ring for the remainder of 2018.
Following Saunders title relinquish, the clash between Demetrius Andrade and Walter Kautondokwa scheduled for October 20th will now be for the vacant World Crown, WBO president Francisco Valcarcel said in a statement.
He added that, he would recommend to the WBO Executive Committee that Saunders receive a six month suspension for his ‘transgression’.
