{"id":65180,"date":"2016-12-04T17:09:46","date_gmt":"2016-12-04T22:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=65180"},"modified":"2016-12-04T17:10:17","modified_gmt":"2016-12-04T22:10:17","slug":"billy-joe-saunders-looks-horrible-in-title-defense-against-artur-akavov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=65180","title":{"rendered":"Billy Joe Saunders Looks Horrible in Title Defense Against Artur Akavov"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BJS\"<\/a>By Jeffrey \u201cItalian Medallion\u201d Cellini<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the Lagoon Leisure Centre In Paisley, Scotland, last night, WBO World Middleweight champion Billy Saunders, 24-0, 12 KO\u2019s won an unimpressive unanimous decision over Artur Akavov, 16-2,7 KO\u2019s to successfully defend his title. The official scores were 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113.<\/p>\n

The fight did not enhance his chances of enticing WBA\/WBC\/IBF World Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin into a unification match in the near future. <\/p>\n

\u201cI stunk the place out tonight but I still got the win,\u201d Saunders said after taking the announcers mic to address the crowd. \u201cI shall be embarrassed to talk about (Gennady) Golovkin on that performance but, trust me, he keeps talking about wanting my belt \u2026 I want his belt(s). But not on that performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 27-year old champion from the U.K. struggled with the crafty southpaw from Russia over the first half of the fight. Akavov was able to land frequently with his punches and score repeatedly in the early portion of the bout, before the champion started to come forward more later in the contest. Even though Saunders appeared to take control of the contest over the second half of the fight, he appeared exhausted in the championship rounds. The champion, who had not fought in a year, last defended his title last December when he defeated Andy Lee by majority decision.<\/p>\n

A scheduled defense against Ukraine\u2019s Max Bursak earlier this year was scrapped after Saunders suffered a hand-injury in training.<\/p>\n

\u201cMostly definitely I\u2019ll need one if not two [more fights] before a big, big fight. A couple of defenses. I \u2018ve been ordered to make two mandatories, so I\u2019ll get my two mandatories out of the way\u201d, Saunders said afterwards.<\/p>\n

On the undercard, former IBF bantamweight titleholder Paul \u201cBaby Faced Assassin\u201d Butler, 23-1, 12 KO\u2019s won a 10-round unanimous decision over rough and rugged Mexican Alexander Cazares, 13-8, 6 KO\u2019s. Butler, who suffered a nasty cut over his right eye in the last round, would rely on his experience and skills to enable him to control the fight. The scores were 100-90 (twice) and 100-91.<\/p>\n