James DeGale insists Billy Joe Saunders is clean fighter after failed drug test as pair eye future showdown
Chunky wants to tempt the Hatfield man up a division to meet him at super-middle and claims his British rival will be cleared of wrongdoing
JAMES DeGALE insists rival Billy Joe Saunders is a clean fighter.
The WBO middleweight world champion failed a VADA drug test at the end of August that has left his October 20 defence against Demetrius Andrade hanging in the balance.
But Chunky, 32, who fancies the idea of luring the Hatfield man up a division to meet him at super-middle, insists the 29-year-old will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Degale, who won a tune-up bout against Fidel Monterrosa Munoz inside three rounds on Sunday, said: “Next I might go home for a big fight.
"Billy Joe Saunders is a good fight, he is a quality southpaw.
“I believe Billy Joe Saunders is a clean fighter, I have known him for a long, long time.
“He is a quality athlete and hopefully he can defend his title successfully.”
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Saunders was found to have fat-burning stimulant oxilofrine in his system but the World Anti-Doping association and the British Boxing Board of Control only punish traces found on the day of the fight.
But Eddie Hearn - who is promoting the Boston bout - revealed on Friday that the scrap is only 50-50 to take place.
The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission will meet this week to decide whether to host the bout or not.
A more likely opponent next for DeGale is tough-talking Chris Eubank Jr, who won a farcical fight on Friday night in Saudi Arabia.
Opponent JJ McDonagh quit on his stool and then offered Eubank a bare-knuckle straightener for questioning his injury and decision to retire.
And a fit-again DeGale will give the 29-year-old Brighton man a much tougher test now he is back firing on all cylinders.
He said: “I have had a shoulder operation and Achilles’ tendonitis that I only just got fixed. But no excuses now, I am back to my best, let’s move forward.
“Now I am back and healthy I want a world title but back home there is some big names and big money to be earned.”