Former two-weight WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for his part in a mass brawl at a baby shower in November 2021.<\/p>\n
Saunders was among nine men involved in what was described as a \u201cvery violent\u201d altercation in Warwick, during which he was alleged to have attempted to use a beer bottle as a weapon and punched several men.<\/p>\n
Warwick Crown Court heard that Saunders, 37, became involved after violence had already broken out but went on to play a significant role in the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were a boxer of some skill and repute at the Olympics and as a professional,\u201d the judge told Saunders.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were involved in this [incident] at a more serious level than three of those with you today [in the dock], as you used a bottle and were considerably involved in this offence, but I bear in mind you did not dive in at the outset, you got involved a little later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saunders represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics before going on to win WBO titles at middleweight and super middleweight as a professional.<\/p>\n
His defence argued that his life had unravelled following his most recent appearance in the ring, a high-profile defeat by Saul \u201cCanelo\u201d Alvarez in May 2021, but said the incident had prompted him to get his life back on track.<\/p>\n