The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission voted today against granting WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders a boxing license following his failed doping test on August 30th. Therefore Saunders will be unable to defend his title, as per contractually agreed, against Demetrius Andrade in Boston on October 20th.

WBO President Francisco Valcárcel stated, “It is unfortunate that a boxer as talented as Saunders is facing this controversy and will not be able to defend the title. The WBO will examine the situation with due diligence and proceed according to its ‘Rules & Regulations’ decide which is the proper course of action.”

Valcárcel, a practicing attorney, added that if Andrade fights the first available contender, the WBO Championship Committee will consider sanctioning the bout.

So it looks like the show will go on with Andrade facing WBO #2 rated Walter Kautondokwa (17-0, 16 KOs) for the vacant interim title and if Saunders is stripped the winner would get the full belt.

As for Saunders, when the Massachusetts Commission rendered their decision, he reportedly told them via speaker phone “You can suck my pr**k!” The WBO Championship Committee will now order Saunders to show why the title shouldn’t be declared vacant. He then has the right to appeal any decision before the Grievances Committee according to Rule 34 of the WBO Rules and Regulations.