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Billy Joe Saunders has filmed an appalling video which appears to show him advising men how to hit their partners during the coronavirus lockdown.

The footage obtained by Mirror Fighting, which has circulated on WhatsApp, shows the super-middleweight world champion with a punch bag in his barn after a training session.

He proceeds to advise men what to do physically if they get into an argument.

Saunders also provides commentary, saying: "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 in right spaces.

"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."

He then goes into specific detail what men should physically do - which the Mirror has decided not to publish.

(Image: Getty Images)

It's unclear whether Saunders is being tongue in cheek, but after the video emerged he wrote on Twitter : "I would never condone domestic violence and if I saw a man touch a woman I would smash him to pieces myself I have a Daughter and if a man laid a finger on her it would be end well . Apologies if I offended any women stay blessed x"

Saunders is no stranger to controversy having recently apologised for phoning an American airline to say a friend of his had coronavirus as he prepared to board a plane from Los Angeles.

The friend was pulled off the fight and tested for coronavirus before eventually being allowed to fly home.

And in 2018 Saunders was fined £100,000 by the British Boxing Board of Control for offering a drug addict "£150 of crack" in exchange for performing a sex act.

The former middleweight champion was due to take on Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas on May 2 before the coronavirus crisis struck.