WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (26-0, 12 KOs) is very confident that IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) would not be able to keep up with his boxing ability.
Last Saturday in Canada, Saunders dominated former IBF champion David Lemieux over twelve rounds to make a big statement in the middleweight ranks. It was Saunders' televised debut to the American audience on HBO.
Now Saunders is looking for a major fight in the division - and wants a crack at Golovkin or Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.
He believes Golovkin is too old, at 35 years, to endure the pace of a long boxing match and trying to catch up with Saunders' quick feet.
"Golovkin's got good power, good pressure, good footwork," Saunders told BBC Sport. "He's not 28 anymore, he's 35, to stand back and box me would take a lot."
Saunders realizes that you are only as good as your own performance, and he's not allowing the new-found praise from fans to expand his ego.
"I know deep down what performance is there but you know everyone now is 'Billy Joe is this, Billy Joe is the next big thing, he's going to beat Golovkin, he can beat Canelo,'" Saunders said.
"Realistically I don't really care because four months ago, before I went to Dominic [Ingle] I was a 'washed up bum, who was holding the title hostage.'"
Golovkin and Canelo collided back in September and fought to a controversial twelve round draw at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. They are now in deep negotiations to have a rematch on the Cinco De Mayo date of May 5th.
Saunders would like the winner of the second fight.
"If I box one of them I'd bring out another level in me again," Saunders said.
According to promoter Frank Warren, Saunders is likely to return to the ring for his next defense on a date in April or May.
2023-10-20 05:09:00
