Billy Joe Saunders beats Marcelo Esteban Coceres in TKO in Los Angeles

British boxer Billy Joe Saunders has retained his world title by beating Argentinian Marcelo Esteban Coceres in a technical knock out in Los Angeles.

In what was his first fight in America, the super-middleweight was hoping to make the most of his opportunity on the undercard of KSI’s rematch with Logan Paul.

But the crowd was not impressed with the slow pace, and the fight was greeted with silence and occasional booing.

In the 11th round, though, Saunders found his form and dropped Coceres three times before the Englishman was declared the winner on a TKO.

“There’s no excuse, that performance was not worthy of Canelo or any of the other big names,” Saunders said.

“I knew by round nine that I had to get him out of here. My timing wasn’t right, my head wasn’t right, nothing was right.

“I’m not one for excuses. I needed to let him gas out then attack.

“I’ve got the win and I’ve got to thank the American fans and I hope they tune in again because that wasn’t the best of me.”