U.K. got right what U.S. gets wrong with Billy Joe Saunders suspension

The BBBofC suspended boxing champion, Billy Joe Saunders, for an insensitive social media post. It was the right move that the U.S. could learn from.

On Monday, March 30, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) announced that they were suspending WBO super middleweight champion, Billy Joe Saunders, because of an insensitive social media post mocking domestic violence.  Some felt that the BBBofC reacted harshly, but they were 100 percent correct in their action. Unfortunately, boxing in the U.S. doesn’t take violence against women as seriously.

Saunders’ video, which was taken down yet still exists on social media, offended and hurt many people. What was a joke to Saunders is others’ trauma. The BBBofC’s indefinite suspension of Saunders had boxing fans and some media members debating the severity of the punishment. Several of those opinions came from Americans who felt the BBBofC was out of line because they weren’t valuing free speech.

Americans prize their First Amendment rights under the U.S. constitution, and rightfully so. The press needs the First Amendment to ensure that citizens receive accurate and factual information and it is essential to maintaining democracy. Still, the U.S. isn’t the only country that values and protects free speech.

Many countries around the world have laws that protect free speech and citizens who value it. That doesn’t mean that people are free from the consequences that their words can produce.

The BBBofC is a governing body that regulates boxing across the U. K. The U.S. doesn’t have a national governing body for boxing. Boxing licenses are handled by state athletic commissions. Boxing license revocations come from the state issuing the license to a fighter.

Don’t get sanctioning bodies confused with athletic commissions. Organizations like the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBF sanction bouts collecting a fee from fights in the process. A failed drug test issued under the command of a sanctioning body, for example, can result in the state revoking a boxer’s license, but that’s up to the state.

Professional boxers are public figures and represent their sport. If those in charge of boxing in the U.K believe that an athlete’s actions or words damage the sport’s reputation, then they have the right to hand down a punishment. The same is true for many professional athletic leagues in the U.S., such as the NBA, NFL, or MLB. The lone exception seems to be boxing.

Saunders wasn’t jailed and didn’t lose his freedom. Being a professional boxer or athlete, in general, is a privilege, not a right. People are free to be repulsed by Saunders’ words, and that right applies to John Williamson and the rest of the officiating members of the BBBofC.

The BBBofC sent a message with their suspension of Saunders. They do not accept any conduct that makes light of domestic violence. Through their actions, they are telling the public that they don’t view this issue as a laughing matter and will not allow their athletes to demean a serious problem.

Boxing in the U.S. hasn’t taken the same hard line against domestic violence. Numerous fighters have been accused or convicted of domestic violence and haven’t faced many — if any — consequences.

In March of 2018, light heavyweight Marcus Browne was arrested for domestic violence for the second time. He was rumored to have a bout with Sergey Kovalev lined up for June of that year. The fight fell through after Browne’s second arrest. BoxingScene.com reported in April of 2018 that “Kovalev’s handlers began seeking other options” after news of Browne’s arrests surfaced.

In hindsight, that’s sadly ironic considering that Kovalev was arrested and eventually charged for felony assault in June of 2018 after he allegedly punched a woman in the face after she declined his sexual advances. Kovalev’s arrest occurred just three months after Browne’s second arrest.

Even after all that, Browne fought five months after his second arrest against Lenin Castillo. Kovalev fought Eleider Alvarez just two months after his arrest.

It should also be noted that Browne has now been arrested a total four times for domestic assault, and Kovalev was removed from a flight in July of 2019 for allegedly harassing a woman. She accused Kovalev of “grabbing her hand and kissing her, and throwing cash at her and making her feel unsafe,” as reported by The Athletic (subscription required). Browne and Kovalev still fought shortly after their latest incidents.

Saunders didn’t assault anybody, and he didn’t commit a crime, but he did make a crude, distasteful joke about violent crimes against women, and the BBBofC disciplined him for it. Good.

People with authority over boxing in the U.S. need to do the same and follow the BBBofC’s lead, especially in cases where boxers have been arrested, accused, or convicted of violent crimes.

It was reassuring to see DiBella CEO Lou DiBella echo this sentiment via Twitter in reply to news of Saunders’ suspension.

“Better than how we handle things here in #boxing, where a fighter can beat a woman to a pulp or a hospital and not face ANY repercussions,” said DiBella on Twitter. “NO sport here is more tolerant of domestic violence. Hell, you can even get caught on video!”

Hopefully, more who hold power in boxing will heed DiBella’s words. The U.S. doesn’t have a national governing body, so that means that state athletic commissions, promoters and sanctioning bodies need to do more in holding their fighters accountable for their transgressions.

If the U.K. can punish a boxer for joking about violence against women, the U.S. should be able to do the same against those accused or convicted of it.