Superb Saunders' boxing successes

Bradley and Billy Joe Saunders both scored wins to extend the winning start for Great Britain's boxing squad to three bouts.

Bradley Saunders rounded off a superb 65th birthday for head coach Terry Edwards by taking just 144 seconds to floor Ghana's Samuel Kotey twice and steam-roller into the second round.

Earlier, 18-year-old Billy Joe Saunders, no relation, made short work of Turkey's world bronze medallist Adem Kilicci, scoring a 14-3 victory which bristled with promise and maturity.

Bradley Saunders admitted he had been nervous prior to his opening bout and felt it showed as he fell two points behind against the African before turning it in his favour when he floored Kotey with a long left hand.

The Sedgefield light-welterweight said: "I did start slow and I let the occasion get to me. But I hurt him with the same punch earlier and he was wide open - I've definitely got the power and I proved it tonight."

Earlier Billy Joe Saunders eased past Kilicci to book a second round meeting with top Cuban Carlos Banteaux, whom he has already beaten in a tournament in Bulgaria this year.

Saunders said: "It's going to be hard and I'm going to have to put everything into it to get a result but I've already beaten the Cuban before.

"Today I've beaten the world bronze medallist by 10 points so I'm feeling great - I've got to deal with this sort of pressure and if I do it then hopefully I'll get a medal for Great Britain.

Coach Edwards called the two victories "a tremendous birthday present" and added: "Everybody who goes into that ring is going to be nervous because of the venue and having the Olympic tag on the end of it."

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