Olympic Profiles - Boxing - Billy Joe Saunders
Name: Billy Joe Saunders
Date of Birth: 30/08/1989
Born: Hatfield
Lives: Hatfield
Sport: Amateur Boxing
Weight: Welterweight
Club: Hoddesdon Boxing Academy
Interesting Fact: Billy Joe lives on a travellers' site just outside Hatfield, and is very proud of his Romany roots. The 18-year-old's father, cousins and grandfather were all boxers, while his great-grandfather, Absolom Beeny, was a champion in fairground fighting booths.
Saunders is the youngest fighter in the GB boxing team.
How he got there: Saunders secured his berth by winning his bronze medal box-off over Slovakia's Pavol Hlavacka 20-10, in the penultimate Olympic qualifying event in Pescara, Italy.
WHT Olympic analysis: The welterweight was originally scheduled to compete at the 2012 London Olympics, so getting to Beijing must be seen as a huge bonus.
However, his talent and desire should not be under-estimated, and expect him to raise a few eyebrows with his all-action style. Tipped as a potential medal winner.
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