Billy Joe Saunders

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Billy Joe Saunders is a British amateur boxer who after a distinguished junior career qualified for the 2008 Olympics.

[edit] Career

"Caravan Kid" Saunders lives with his family on a travellers' encampment near Hatfield, Hertfordshire and fights for Hoddesdon ABC. He is the great-grandson of one of Britain's most famous gypsy bareknuckle champions, Absolom Beeney. His father, Tom, a former amateur, also admits to being involved in a bareknuckle scrap once "to sort things out, the way the travelling community does".

The southpaw won his first 49 amateur fights at senior level in a row winning the Commonwealth Championships 2007[1] and the Strandya Cup 2008 edging out Cuban Carlos Banteaux[2].

In 2008 Saunders qualified for the Beijing Olympics in the Welterweight division at the age of 18.[3] Saunders qualified at the Euopean area qualifier in Pescara, Italy. He beat European champion Andrey Balanov and Kakhaber Zhvania , he lost his semi to Oleksandr Stretskyy before beating the Slovakian, Pavol Hlavacka for the all-important third spot.[4] He will go to Beijing as the first person from the British Romany Gypsy community to qualify for the games.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ CommonwealthChamps2007
  2. ^ Strandjata2008
  3. ^ BBC SPORT | Olympics | GB boxers secure Beijing places
  4. ^ European Olympic Qualifications - 1 - Pescara, Italy
  5. ^ BBC SPORT | Olympics | Boxing | Saunders - From Romany to Beijing
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