After putting on a boxing clinic against David Lemieux, Billy Joe Saunders wasted no time in bringing up one of the Canadian's old tweets.

Saunders successfully defended his WBO World Middleweight crown on Saturday night to win a unanimous decision.

He landed back in London on Monday morning and took the chance to remind Lemieux of his trash-talking.

"I finally get the chance to teach this coward a lesson," Lemieux confidently predicted back in October.

So Saunders cleverly replied: "Did you mistake 'I' for 'You'?"

It was the challenger who was taught a lesson, as Saunders dominated every round to silence the lively Montreal crowd.

Saunders taunted his opponent for missing shots in the fifth round. Two rounds later, Lemieux was left with a bloodied nose after a series of jabs.

"I knew what he was coming for. I look easy to hurt, but you can’t hit me. I like going to somebody’s backyard because I perform better. I’m a whole different animal now," the Champion said after the fight.

Promoter Frank Warren hopes to book a date against Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez at some stage in the new year, but he suggested that Saunders may have a competitive keep-busy bout in the spring if neither man is prepared to take on the WBO champion before their anticipated rematch.

MTK Global’s Anthony Fitzpatrick, who manage the WBO champ, insists Saunders will prove he is the world’s leading middleweight in 2018

“MTK will be doing everything we can to ensure Billy Joe gets a super fight against Golovkin or Canelo next year,” said Fitzpatrick. “Billy Joe showed once again on Saturday night that he is one of the world’s best middleweights. We knew he was an elite talent when we signed him and Billy Joe has put in the hard work to back that up. He’ll prove he is the world’s No 1 middleweight in 2018.”