Billy Joe Saunders vows to ‘slap slap slap’ Mad Max Bursak on April 30
WBO Middleweight King Billy Joe Saunders has vowed to slap ‘Mad’ Max Bursak before sending him back to Ukraine with his tail between his legs.
The Hatfield star makes the first defence of his world title against Bursak at Stratford’s Copper Box Arena on April 30, live and exclusive on BoxNation.
Ukranian hardman Bursak, a former European, WBO Intercontinental, IBF Youth and WBA Continental Middleweight Champion, is a veteran of 37 fights and holds a win over former British champion Nick Blackwell.
Bursak, 31, from Kiev, has only lost four times – all by points – against top opposition: Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, Jarrod Fletcher, Martin Murray and undefeated talent Zac Dunn. Undefeated Saunders, 23-0-0 12 KOs, is confident of making short work of Bursak before setting his eyes on a massive summer stadium fight.
“He’s been beaten four times. I should play ping pong with him, if I don’t then I’m not the world champion I think I am,” Saunders told iFL TV.
“I should slap him. I’m not taking my eye off the ball. I know I’m going to slap him up. I’m very fit already and I’m in good shape. Slap slap slap slap slap and back to Ukraine and then bring over the next one! If I don’t slap slap slap him then I need slap slap slapping.
“He’s going to come here and punch thin air. He’s going to be punching air all night. The public are talking about him like he’s crap so I’ll talk about him like he’s crap. I’m not training for him like he’s crap; trust me.”
WBA World middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs (31-1-0 28 KOs) took to Twitter this week to call out Saunders. Jacobs, 31, won the vacant WBA title in September 2014 when he halted Jarrod Fletcher in the fifth round and has since recorded three defences via stoppage – most recently a spectacular first-round victory over Peter Quillin in December.
Saunders was quick to fire back through his own Twitter account, saying: ‘You want me I’ll kick your ***, son. You’re not even the world champ… belt No 2 you hold’. The hard-hitting southpaw says he’ll fight anyone if the offer is right but has bigger fish to fry before dealing with Jacobs.
He said: “I’ve got a lot of respect for him for what he’s been through. Obviously he’s got some fight in him. Would I get that belt around my waist and think I’m a world champion? It’s like winning the WBO Intercontinental and thinking you’re a world champion; it’s not the case is it.
“He’s the man behind the man. I think he’s a good fighter and he had a good last performance against Peter Quillin but why would I want to fight him when I can fight Golovkin?”
