Frank Warren has announced he's parted ways with his long-term client and WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders.
In a statement, Warren says the decision to part ways as they have been unable to sign the fights they want, "Following dialogue between Frank Warren, Billy Joe and his management company MTK over recent weeks, it was mutually agreed that after struggling to regain this collective momentum, and with certain fights not immediately available within the partnership, that it is in the interests of both parties to pursue their respective goals separately."
Saunders beat Off The Ball's own Andy Lee for the WBO Middleweight title in December of 2015. However, he was stripped of that title in 2018 after failing a voluntary drugs test ahead of his proposed defence against Demetrius Andrade. Saunders put that failed test down to using "a common decongestant nasal spray".
The 29-year old Saunders was crowned WBO Super Middleweight champion in May of 2019 following a unanimous decision victory over Shefat Ifusi in Stevenage.
Having been managed by Warren for his entire professional career, Saunders says their amicable split is still difficult to digest, "First of all, I just want to say a massive thank you to Frank for everything he has done for my career over the past decade.
"Frank signed me after the 2008 Olympics and was with me every step of the way as I won the British, Commonwealth and European titles before becoming a world champion in two divisions.
"It feels a little bittersweet and I’ll always be appreciative for everything Frank has done for me. We’ll stay close."
Warren too is sad to part ways with Saunders, "I’ve really enjoyed working with Billy Joe through his whole professional career and guiding him to become British, Commonwealth, European and a two-weight world champion.
"I’m personally very fond of Billy Joe and I wish him every success in the remainder of his career."
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