纽约 (十二月. 19, 2015) – Billy Joe Saunders dethroned WBO Middleweight World Champion 李兆 with a 12-round majority decision Saturday on 欣欣拳击 INTERNATIONAL 从曼彻斯特, 英国.

战斗, 这是得分 115-111, 114-112 和 113-113, will re-air tonight at 9 P.M. AND/PT的SHO EXTREME.

In a matchup of tactical southpaws, an explosive third round from Saunders (23-0, 12 科斯) was the difference. The British challenger floored Lee twice – first with a big right hook and again with a counter right just 30 seconds later – and a dazed Lee somehow survived the 10-7 圆. 视频集锦: http://s.sho.com/1OfibYe

The Irish Lee (34-3-1, 24 科斯) fought his way back and was the more aggressive fighter in the championship rounds, but it wasn’t enough to make up for a slow start and the two knockdowns.

同赢, Saunders became the 12^日 current British world champion.

“I’m world champion,” Saunders said. “I beat a good champion today, a good sturdy champion. I used his power against him. When I was boxing he got a little bit careless and dropped his lead hand and I caught him with the hook.

“I’m not going to start running my mouth, but it was a good shot. With someone as fast as me you have to keep your hands up. I’m not the biggest puncher in the world, but I showed you there that I can punch.”

WBA中量级世界冠军 丹尼尔·雅各布斯, fresh off a first round knockout of 彼得Quillin two weeks ago on SHOWTIME, was a guest analyst 周六 从纽约.

“I thought he was going to be a big brawler, I thought he had better assets,” Jacobs said of Lee. “He didn’t do enough for me. He was too complacent and after the knockdown you didn’t see that sense of urgency that a fighter has to have on the comeback trail.

“All credit due to Billy Joe, but it wasn’t an impressive victory.”

After watching the fight, Jacobs wasn’t ready to commit to a unification showdown in 2016 with the winner.

“We’ll do whatever makes sense,” Jacobs said. “I think it’s time to sit-down and figure what makes sense. Obviously it’s a good time to be a middleweight champion.”