Former WBO world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders is expected to return to action in April, promoter Frank Warren has told ESPN.
The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission (MSAC) denied Saunders a boxing license to defend his WBO world middleweight title against American Demetrius Andrade in Boston on Oct. 20 2018 after the English boxer tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine -- induced via a nasal decongestant spray -- on Aug. 30. 2018.
Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) rules, oxilofrine is only banned in competition, meaning a fighter is only in breach of rules if the substance is detected in his stem on the day of the fight. Saunders, who had a four-round non-title victory on the undercard of Josh Warrington-Carl Frampton last month, also did not breach the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control.
"Billy will fight again in early April," Warren told ESPN. "The plan is to keep him busy and in big fights. He will box at middleweight. What's happened is all history and he has to take inspiration from Tyson Fury and how things turned around for him."
Warren also confirmed that IBF featherweight champion Warrington is likely to face fellow Briton Kid Galahad for his next fight.
Galahad (26-0, 15 KOs), 28, is No. 1 in the IBF rankings and, like Warrington, is from the English county of Yorkshire.
After beating Northern Ireland's Carl Frampton on points in December, Warrington (28-0, 6 KOs) declared his intention to face one of the other world champions in his division.
WBO titleholder Oscar Valdez (24-0, 19 KOs), of Mexico, seemed the most likely unification fight available to Warrington.
Valdez has his first fight for 11 months, due to injury, when he defends his WBO belt against Carmine Tommasone on Feb. 2.
But Warrington's promoter, Warren, says a mandatory defence against English rival Galahad may be the next bout on the cards with a purse bid due on Jan. 24.
"Josh wants to unify the belts and I want to help him do that," Warren said. "He's a standout fighter and he proved that against Carl Frampton. For me, he's the best in the division. If you're talking about levels, they are both up there.
"We would like the Valdez fight but I don't know if it's next for Josh. The IBF have ordered a fight with Kid Galahad so we will sit down and decide what to do. All options are open at the moment."