County Durham boxer Bradley Saunders was on Tyneside yesterday to announce a dramatic transfer. Paul Fraser caught up with the Sedgefield talent after being handed a lucrative deal with Matchroom and Sky Sports

THE setting was fitting; perfect in fact. The media suite at St James’ Park, where a long line of big name signings have been paraded over the years, was the venue for another significant transfer announcement.

This latest one, in its own unique way, had nothing to do with Newcastle United, yet could pack a seriously large punch internationally. Or at least Eddie Hearn certainly thinks so after persuading County Durham’s Bradley Saunders to move from the Frank Warren stable to sign for Matchroom.

Things could not have gone smoother for Sedgefield’s Saunders since he turned his back on a coveted amateur career three years ago. Not only has he reeled off ten straight wins, eight inside the distance, he has risen to prominence by landing the WBO inter-continental belt.

Such a record has made it difficult for him to fulfil his ambitions of fighting for a British title because those above him in the rankings have shown a reluctance to enter the ring with him. In teaming up with Matchroom, however, his dreams of hitting the very top appear to have received a significant push in the right direction.

Suddenly, while wondering when and for what his next fight was going to be, Saunders is preparing for his first outing under Hearn’s guidance at the 10,000 sell-out Echo Arena in Liverpool on November 22, when Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew headline a huge show on pay-per-view television.

With a fight lined up for January/February in either Manchester or Berlin, as well as a North-East homecoming on April 4 at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena, Saunders’ big switch already looks like reaping the rewards as he looks to work his way to a world title.

And, speaking in the same St James’ suite where the likes of Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate have previously been unveiled after making huge transfers, the Sedgefield-born former Olympian is satisfied with his decision to move on in his bid to succeed.

“I just rang Frank to tell him,” said Saunders, described as one of boxing’s smartest dressers after turning up in a light brown suit and tan shoes for the press conference on Tyneside.

“Everyone in boxing seems to jump ship, but people need to realise I was a free agent. I didn’t jump any ship. I have never been in a contract and jumped out. It had expired and I had the decency to ring Frank up to thank him for what he had done and explain I was looking at other options. Not many boxers do that. I would like to think I have done things properly.

“Frank was a bit sick at the time, but that’s life I suppose. The best horse jumps the ditch and that’s what I have done. It’s better for me, for North-East boxing and for my family.

“I left my manager to sort it out. It can’t be about loyalty can it? Some of my best friends haven’t been loyal to me. I’m not a businessman but from a business point of view I had to take it. The best thing is what is best for me in a short career. I want to hit this very hard in the next five years and get as much out of it and get as far as I can.”

Warren always spoke glowingly of Saunders, particularly after the way he emphatically stopped Ville Piispanen inside 81 seconds to claim his first professional title in June. Performances like that have had made people take notice, which is why Matchroom have moved in.

“Now he has an opportunity to fight on all of the biggest shows in Britain and around the world. He can fight when he wants on the biggest platform, Sky Sports, in the UK,” said Hearn.

“We are always looking for the next generation and I missed the boat with Bradley a couple of years ago. It has felt like a part of the jigsaw was not complete for us. We just felt we needed someone in the North-East, particularly at light-welter, who was going to become a world champion. All eyes led to Bradley Saunders.”

While figures and finances remain private, Saunders knows he has hit the cash jackpot – particularly if he goes on to achieve what he thinks he is capable of.

Hearn said: “It’s a long-term deal. Everyone was in for him. Bradley spoke to a few promoters here and internationally, but financially he is in a great place with us. We look at him and think he is going to be a world champion, so our bid was probably better than everybody else’s.”

There is even tentative talk of a return to St James’ Park in the future for a title fight and Saunders is happy to be a North-East boxer making the right noises. He has real intentions to bring a major title back to the region after Darlington’s Stuart Hall lost his grip on the IBF bantamweight title in June.

Saunders said: “I think Sky Sports and the lure of Newcastle persuaded me to swap. My profile should go through the roof. I want people’s nanas and grandas to know who I am. I am known as one of Britain’s best prospects through Box Nation but this can catapult me again.”

Hearn is convinced he not only has the talent but the style to shine. He said: “To be a pay-per-view fighter, you have to be seriously good and seriously popular. I like the way Bradley talks, I love his confidence, his exuberance. I love the fact he is a bit of a showman, he likes to feel he is the main man.

“He has a bit of trap too; great. He is a bit of a jack the lad, but he is a jack the lad who is 28 and he has had his fun. He has had his nights out, settled and all he wants is to earn money and win titles. He doesn’t want to go out on the lash like he might have done. He wants to get his head down and win titles.”

And with that mindset, Saunders hopes one of the biggest boxing transfers of 2014 will lead him to glory.