TSM vs. Northern United – European Group Stage 2013

Lore & Background

Saunders held the WBO middleweight title from 2015 to 2018 and the WBO super-middleweight title from 2019 to 2021. At regional level, he held the European, British, and Commonwealth middleweight titles between 2012 and 2015. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at the 2008 European Union Championships and represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics.

Reader's Guide

Saunders made his professional debut on 28 February 2009. He won his first world title on 19 December 2015, defeating Andy Lee via majority decision for the WBO middleweight title. His first title defence was against Artur Akavov on 3 December 2016, winning by unanimous decision.

Did You Know?

• Saunders is of Romani descent and grew up on a Romanichal and Traveller site near Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
• His great-grandfather, Absolom Beeney, was a famous bare-knuckle boxer.
• Saunders won his first 49 amateur fights at senior level.
• He was the first person from the British Romanichal community to qualify for the Olympic Games.