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Published 12:11 9 May 2021 BST
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Billy Joe Saunders was rocked by a devastating right hand from Canelo, which reportedly shattered his orbital bone. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)[/caption]
Eventually, however, Canelo did land it. And boy did Saunders feel the pain.
Attempting to roll the Mexican's left hook, Saunders instead laid his chin on a plate for an absolutely destructive right-hand uppercut from the red-haired power puncher, and his right eye instantly blackened.
When the round ended, he struggled to open his eye and could be seen in the corner mouthing "no" to his trainers.
Trainer Mark Tibbs then informed the referee that he was pulling Billy Joe Saunders out of the fight.
Eddie Hearn said Saunders is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"He's gone to hospital and I believe he'll have that operated on immediately. So he's going to be out for a long, long time."
Many have asked whether Saunders will be questioning his boastfulness going into the fight, or the fact he previously criticised Daniel Dubois for pulling out of his fight with Joe Joyce due to a similar injury.
Boxing is all about bravado, however.
One man certainly regretting his actions will be a Billy Joe Saunders superfan who had a large back tattoo of the Hatfield man holding Canelo's severed head in victory.
https://twitter.com/NoContextHearn/status/1391118955637612544?s=20
The unnamed man, who had the tattoo done in the build up to Saturday's fight, can be seen on video bragging about Saunders' pending takedown of the pound-for-pound number one, complete with a God Save The Queen backing track.
On the tattoo itself, Saunders is depicted holding Canelo's severed head aloft with '31-0' written beneath.
The man ends the video by stating: "Come on Billy, up the Gypsies! F***ing pull his head off, the f***ing dosser."Football

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