Billy Joe Saunders retains super-middleweight title by defeating Martin Murray

Billy Joe Saunders successfully retained his WBO super-middleweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over fellow Briton Martin Murray on Friday.

This was Saunders' 30th victory for his undefeated career, who entered into the world title bout rated by the bookmakers with a strong preference of 1-25.

Sanders scored 120-109, 120-109 and 118-110 against British rival Murray in his second defence of the WBO title at London's SSE Arena.

"I've been out over a year, and it's like boxing in the cemetery. I like to perform for the crowd, and I tried to set a rhythm, but he is a cunning old fox, and he ties you up well. I probably needed the rounds going into the New Year, and I hope he has a good Christmas and he goes back to his family. The main thing is I'm 30-0," said Saunders.

This was Murray's fifth defeat in a world championship, and the 38-year-old later admitted that this might be his last fight.

Former world middleweight champion Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs) was about to face Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) earlier this year to fight, but the coronavirus pandemic interrupted those plans.