Billy Joe Saunders produced a flat performance but a victory nonetheless against Argentina’s Marcelo Esteban Coceres in Los Angeles on Saturday night to retain his unbeaten record and the WBO super middleweight title.
It was a performance that will have done little to convince US kingmakers that the Englishman deserves a superbout against Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez, but he produced a classy finish delivering a stinging uppercut that put the Argentine on the canvas for the third time in round 11.
Boos rang out midway through the 10th round of a poor fight in which Caceres (28-1-1), a massive underdog with bookmakers, gave Saunders an unexpectedly difficult night.
In the end, Saunders (29-0) found enough to wrap up what was supposed to be a routine outing just in time, but he admitted it was far from an impressive performance from the inconsistent 30-year-old.
“There’s no excuse,” said Saunders, who was making his US debut, “that performance is not worthy of a Canelo, a Daniel Jacobs or any other big name.
“Everything was off tonight ... there was no jab working, no back hand. It was like I was dipped in glue. There was something missing tonight.”
Relegated to fighting on the undercard of YouTube pugilists KSI and Logan Paul, Saunders appeared totally uninspired, and not for the first time in his 10-year professional career.
However, Saunders was bullish that his next fight should still be one of the super-middleweight division’s top names.
“I’m not one for excuses – I wasn’t 100 per cent tonight [but] I’ve got the win.
“Canelo Alvarez, if you wanna become four-weight champion, take me while you think I’m spent. Take me now. I want Canelo.”
