Billy Joe Saunders will be out for a "long, long time" following his defeat to Canelo Alvarez, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Mexican fighter was crowned unified world super-middleweight champion during Saturday night's main event clash in Texas, after Billy Joe's corner threw in the towel following eight rounds of punishment.
As a result of a badly damaged eye, 'Superb' was unable to get up and out of his stool to continue, giving Canelo the TKO victory.
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It is believed the two-weight world champion suffered a suspected fractured orbital bone and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital following the fight.
Canelo caught Saunders with several heavy shots but the one that appeared to do the damage was a brutal uppercut.
After the bout, promotor Hearn says Saunders' corner made the right decision throwing in the towel.
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"You could see as soon as he [Canelo] hit him [Saunders] that he'd done his eye socket." Hearn told iFL TV after the fight.
"I think because he couldn't see, the next round was going to be a bad situation. I think he would have got badly hurt in that round."
Hearn also hinted at a long spell on the sidelines for Saunders after he suffered the first loss of his 31-fight professional career.
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"He's gone to hospital and I believe he'll have that operated on immediately. So he's going to be out for a long, long time.
"But he's a world class fighter who lost to the pound-for-pound number one. He's a two-weight world champion.
"If he wants to carry on there's some big fights out there for him. He may feel he has got to a stage where he's been there, he's done it, he's seen it all. We'll back him 100%."
Thoughts on Saunders' defeat to Canelo on Saturday night? Should there be a rematch?
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Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: DAZNTopics: Boxing, Eddie Hearn, Canelo Alvarez