Billy Joe Saunders has revealed he was nearly kicked of the Team GB Beijing Olympics team after he and fellow boxer Frankie Gavin stole two jet skis during training camp.
Back in 2008, the British boxer was just 18-years-old, and by his own admission "immature" and naive. During the build up to the games in Beijing, Saunders and Gavin were struggling to make weight, which meant they were not allowed out of training camp.
However, the pair then decided to violate those rules, stealing two jet skis outside of the Team GB hotel. And unfortunately for the boxing duo, they were spotted by two members of the British press pack. Now, Saunders and Gavin could have opted to just head back to shore following their jet ski escapades.
READ MORE:'Andy Murray told me to f*** off when I asked to play FIFA – then slammed door in my face'
READ MORE: Tyson Fury's 'love handles' mocked by former world champion ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight
But of course, they opted not to, instead making "moonies" at the two individuals from the Sun which landed them in further trouble. And speaking to Simon Jordan on his William Hill podcast, 'Up Front with Simon Jordan', Saunders explained how Gavin took the fall for him, meaning he could still compete at the 2008 Olympics.
Saunders said: "I actually nearly never ended up going to the Olympics. I almost got sent home before it started in my training camp. It was me and Frankie Gavin and he was struggling to make weight, so we weren’t allowed out of the training camp.
"Me and Frankie decided to steal two jet skis outside of the hotel. We thought two people were chasing us when we were using them out at sea, so me and him started doing ‘moonies’ to them. It turned out it was The Sun newspaper!
What do you make of Billy Joe Saunders admission? Let us know in the comments section below.
"They identified it was me and the head coach came in and told me I was being sent home and that I wouldn’t be going to the Olympics and representing my country. I was thinking ‘what have I done?’ because I didn’t realise how bad it was. To be fair to him, Frankie Gavin knew he wouldn’t be able to make the weight so he took the fall for me, and I will never forget him for that.
"Some of the things I have done in the past have been very stupid and I don’t know whether it was because I was young, uneducated or just a bit hyperactive. But when they said I was going home from the Olympics I suddenly thought, ‘oh s**t, I’ve ruined it all,’ and it hit home."
Sky Sports is bringing you 500 live football games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA and more across eight dedicated channels. Sky Sports is the only way to watch all the action this year.
£22 a month
Saunders 2008 Olympic experience saw him beat Turkey's Adem Kılıçcı in the first round in welterweight division, but then go on to lose in the second, falling to Carlos Banteux.
Source: Read Full Article