British boxer Billy Joe Saunders has been slammed for filming a video appearing to teach men how to hit their partners during coronavirus lockdown.
The 30-year-old later apologised after the video received backlash on social media.
In the video, Saunders is seen striking a punching bag while telling his audience how to react to their female partners if she is "giving you mouth".
"I just wanted to make a little video for all you dads, husbands, if you've got girlfriends etc. Obviously this COVID-19 is getting very serious and we are isolated away," Saunders says in the video which surfaced on social media over the weekend.
"If your old woman is giving you mouth and you try to be patient, you try to be calm, cool, but after the sixth day you're just about to explode.
"All of a sudden she's coming at you, spitting a bit of venom in your face, ready to say something, you may have left the dishes out, I don't know what you've done but you've upset her.
"As she comes in, she's coming at you and you've lost it, just keep it safe with the hands. So as she comes in, she's just about to say something, all of a sudden you explode and hit her on the chin.
"At this time she may flash and see white and think, 'What's happened?', she's in a state of a horror.
"She doesn't know what's going on and all of a sudden you dip down on that knee and you finish her off. That should do the trick."
Billy Joe Saunders. Photo / Getty
Saunders was criticised heavily on social media for the video, with some even calling for his boxing license to be revoked.
"I hope Billy Joe Saunders loses his license for that video. Utter trash. No place in society at all," said one fan.
"He is an absolute disgrace," said another. "Continuously painting boxing, the sport I love, in a bad light. We don't need characters like Billy Joe in the sport, he'll never learn and has so many chances."
The boxer later said he would "never condone domestic violence".
"If I saw a man touch a woman I would smash him to pieces myself. Apologies if I offended any women," he said in a tweet.
Saunders, who is unbeaten in 29 fights and is the current WBO super-middleweight champion, was close to securing a deal to face Mexico's Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Las Vegas on May 2 before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
This wasn't the first time Saunders has found himself in controversy and was fined £100,000 by the British Boxing Board of Control over a video where he told a woman he would give her £150 worth of drugs to perform a sex act.
He also apologised for that video, which police described as "sickening".
DO YOU NEED HELP? If you're in danger now: • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. • Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. • Don't stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay • Call the Crisis Support Line 24/7 at 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843) or 06 870 6024
Where to go for help or more information: • Shine, free national helpline 9am-11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz • Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 • It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz
