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Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Billy Joe Saunders will return to the ring despite a significant injury that has left his career in jeopardy.

Saunders suffered multiple fractures in his cheek bone during a vicious bout against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez last weekend. He was taken to a hospital after the fight and later had surgery to repair a fractured right orbital bone.

Hearn told Sky Sports that Saunders has plenty to be proud about as he recovers. There is no timetable for his return.

“He came up against the pound-for-pound No. 1,” said Hearn. “He got a horrendous injury.

“His trainer pulled him out, but he can hold his head up high, in my opinion, and he’s still one of the best middleweights and super-middleweights in the world. His profile has risen greatly through it, but it is a tough sport, it was a bad injury, and when you’ve won two division world championships and tried to unify against the pound-for-pound No. 1, what does the hunger say inside you?

“I think he’s going to come back. I think he’ll be hurting physically and emotionally from the defeat and we’ll support him. I believe you’ll see him back again.”

–Field Level Media