Billy Joe Saunders set for character test after crushing Canelo Alvarez loss

The Briton suffered a severe facial injury and was stopped on his stool, but Jack Rathborn examines whether his next move can significantly reshape his legacy

Canelo Alvarez lands an uppercut on Billy Joe Saunders in Arlington, Texas (Michael Owens/Matchroom)

Uncertainty clouds Billy Joe Saunders’ future after a harrowing end to the biggest night of his career thanks to a destructive performance from Canelo Alvarez.

Saunders has undergone surgery in Texas after suffering “multiple fractures to the orbital area” of his right eye.

His fleeting moments of success in Dallas lacked enough spite to ever pose anything more than a nuisance to the sport’s pound-for-pound king.

Canelo dented both Saunders’ face and pride in a treacherous eighth round, leading to a short, but clear conversation with trainer Mark Tibbs to confirm the pair’s intent to stop the contest before the ninth round.

A drained Saunders eventually lingered a little too long in front of Canelo, who expertly cut off the infamous 22-foot ring that the Briton had so loudly craved to work his magic.

So while that venomous uppercut not only humbled Saunders on the grandest stage, it also now leaves him scrambling to save his career.

His next move will be telling too, particularly given his previous comments and lack of understanding towards heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois, who suffered a similar injury in defeat to Joe Joyce last year, attracting criticism from within the industry.

The vast riches from dancing with the Mexican superstar will also test his hunger to return and build on his legacy, which will already see him heralded as one of the finest British fighters of his generation.

Dubois’ youth and desire to carve out his own path to success sees him surprisingly poised to return just six months after his own fateful night.

Saunders’ return this year, at least, feels doubtful depending on the severity of his injury and the heeling process though. But make no mistake, there will be opportunities, even if he is merely motivated by the prospect of bolstering his bank roll before retirement.

With Canelo dialled in on facing Caleb Plant, who possesses the final piece of the jigsaw at 168 pounds, a dangerous showdown with Gennadiy Golovkin would appeal to many fans and potentially set up a trilogy against his Mexican nemesis in 2022, or even a rematch for Saunders himself should he win.

While his bitter rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr is long overdue a rematch following their meeting in 2014. Despite seven years to allow hostility to subside, animosity remains as displayed by Eubank Jr’s schadenfreude over the weekend.

Once rested and recovered though, Saunders, for all his faults can erase a lot of the ill will towards him, merely by learning from this painful experience.

It was part of David Haye’s redemption against Tony Bellew, which saw him soldier on in their first fight despite a ruptured Achilles, earning him plaudits from even his most bitter enemies in defeat to the Liverpudlian.

The truth is that Saunders, should he re-emerge as the fighter he was before, can do much more than than just collect a few more paychecks, given the separation between Canelo’s level and the challengers beneath him.

And once the dust settles, Saunders may even be grateful in defeat, for the spectacular stage he graced at the home of the Dallas Cowboys and the experience of sharing the ring with such a decorated opponent.

In a long, meandering career, Saunders’ talent has eventually shone through, elevating himself to the pinnacle of the sport alongside two world title reigns across two divisions.

But now is the time for a deeper, more meaningful discussion about whether he wants more than just money and prizes.

How he emerges from this adversity will speak volumes about Saunders the man and what he has learned from this experience.