WBO world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (26-0, 12 KOs) will be a very interested observer when Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin collide for a second time.
On Monday, it was officially announced that Canelo would challenge Golovkin, the WBC, IBO, IBF, WBA middleweight champion, on May 5th at a venue to be determined at a later date.
They fought back in September, with the contest ending in a controversial twelve round split decision. Now both of them are looking to settle the score.
Saunders retained his title back in December with a one-sided dominating twelve round decision over former IBF champion David Lemieux.
The unbeaten champion will make the fourth defense of his title on April 14th, when he faces battle-tested Martin Murray at the O2 Arena in London.
The main goal for Saunders, is to face the winner of the upcoming Canelo vs. Golovkin rematch - and he holds a big bargaining chip, the only world title not captured as of yet by whoever wins.
He puts his own reputation at stake - when it comes to reaching an agreement with the winner. Whoever walks away from the negotiating table, including himself, deserves criticism - says Saunders.
"If the winner doesn't fight me in a unification, we know someone is ducking someone," Saunders told BBC Sport.
"I look [like the] favorite for the winner but who knows, anything can happen."
Saunders does believe that his victory against Lemieux may have scared off them off.
"To be honest, do I blame them for not fighting me after I'd beaten Lemieux? No," Saunders told BBC Radio 5 live's boxing podcast.
"They are in for a big-money rematch. Business-wise I don't hate them or despise them for it. After that, there is no excuse for any of us. If I don't fight the winner, I'm ducking; if he doesn't, the same."
2023-10-20 09:59:03
