Billy Joe Saunders Leaks WhatsApp Conversation And Call With BOXXER’s Shalom
In a series of Instagram stories posted on Tuesday morning, January 24, 2023, former two-weight world champion Billy Joe Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) launched a scathing attack on BOXXER’s CEO Ben Shalom. The outburst began with a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation dated July 18/19, 2022, revealing a private exchange between the fighter and the prominent promoter.
The blurred portion of the conversation showed Saunders expressing his desire to return to the ring, with phrases like ‘my (fight) date’ and ‘come to a deal’ visible. Shalom’s response indicated a delay, stating he was waiting for a ‘sign off’ from a lawyer to ‘avoid any trouble’. Saunders, known for his outspoken nature, did not hold back in his accompanying caption. He wrote, “July 2022 tho. All young fighters don’t be dealing with BOXXER Ben Shalom, I have heard about him promising all these young fighters, the world and not delivering salt for a potatoš videos plus all the shit talk from sniffing sugar up his nose”. Following this, Saunders tagged both BOXXER and Sky Sports Boxing, sharing an altered image of Shalom’s face.
The Public Outcry: Leaked Conversations and Accusations
The Instagram stories continued with a recording of a phone conversation between Saunders and Shalom, which NoSmokeBoxing subsequently transcribed. In the call, Shalom can be heard reassuring Saunders, saying, “And you’re in a contract so you’re secure anyway.” Saunders, clearly frustrated by the ongoing delays, retorted, “Look Ben (x6). it’s gone past that mate because we’ve been here now since July talking mate.”
Shalom’s response in the call shed light on potential issues within his promotional dealings, particularly concerning Sky Sports. He stated, “No, no so I’m saying if I can’t get you that by the end of the week then I just give you the hundred grand. I actually looked up to you growing up, I don’t want this situation with you, I think I can do what you want but ‘ve got to a point now where Sky have f**ked me. I know you don’t care about that, I’m not gonna f**k you.” This candid admission from Shalom suggested significant friction in his relationship with the broadcaster, which would later become a more public issue for Boxxer.
Adding further fuel to the fire, Saunders then shared a screenshot of Instagram direct messages where retired super middleweight boxer John Docherty reacted to Saunders’ story. Docherty, who had a professional record of 12-1 (9 KOs) before retiring in late 2022 due to medical concerns, simply replied, ‘He’s a prick him’ when referring to Shalom. Docherty, a bronze medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, had previously been promoted by Matchroom Boxing, not Boxxer.
Billy Joe Saunders: A Career Interrupted
At the time of this public dispute in January 2023, Billy Joe Saunders, a southpaw from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, had been out of the ring for nearly two years. His last professional bout was on May 8, 2021, a highly anticipated super-middleweight unification fight against Mexican superstar Canelo Ćlvarez at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Saunders suffered his first and only professional defeat in that fight, retiring in the eighth round due to a fractured orbital bone inflicted by an uppercut from Ćlvarez. This injury marked a significant interruption in a career that had seen him capture world titles in two weight classes.
Saunders made his professional debut in February 2009 and quickly ascended the ranks. He claimed the WBO middleweight title in December 2015 with a majority decision victory over Andy Lee. After three successful defenses, he moved up to super-middleweight, winning the vacant WBO title against Shefat Isufi in May 2019. His record of 30 wins and 1 loss, with
