BILLY JOE SAUNDERS, the British middleweight who earlier this week ridiculed female boxers and said women are there for ‘hard sex, cleaning, cooking and washing’, has apologised for his comments.
The 25-year-old, who is set to face Limerick’s Andy Lee for the WBO middleweight title at Thomond Park in September, was speaking in the aftermath of a bout with Yoann Bloyer at Wembley in which Saunders stopped the Frenchman in the fourth.
After his initial comments about women were publicised, the current European, World and Olympic women’s boxing champion Katie Taylor tweeted that she felt sorry for Saunders’ wife and daughter.
Saunders specifically name-checked Taylor and fellow Olympic champion Nicola Adams during his long-winded apology.
“About all this Twitter stuff I keep getting – all this bad stuff saying what I’ve said about women – it’s only a joke”, he began.
Listen, Katie Taylor is a very, very good fighter. She’s done what she’s done. Nicola Adams and all that. I’ve got the highest respect for them. I’m not saying women shouldn’t box – it’s their choice. They’ve won gold medals when I’ve got beat in the second round of the Olympics – they’re Olympic champions. I just want to clear that up. I reckon they’re very good to the sport.”
“We’ve got to get men off the street and young boys off the street the same way we have to get young girls off the street. They’re showing that side of it. I don’t want to be painted as a man who thinks women are there for cooking and sex – even though they’re still good at it.”
“If people know me, they know what sort of character I am. I say things. If I can help anyone I will and I’m not one of those people that goes around taking the piss – ‘let’s have a laugh’, ‘have a banter’. I do my job and the fans like it. But I’m sorry if I’ve upset anybody and I apologise but that’s all I can do.”
“I apologise. If anybody’s offended by that, I’m sorry. When you see me, just come give me a cuddle and I’ll cuddle you back.”
