Middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders has responded to a unification offer from fellow titlist Gennady Golovkin via WBN.
Saunders (23-0, 12KO) – a former Olympian – won the WBO version of the world title only a few weeks ago with a points victory over Ireland’s Andy Lee and has already been offered a chance to challenge the 160lb kingpin.
Golovkin – unbeaten in 34 fights – already holds the WBA and IBF belts but is eager to unify the division and become the undisputed champion. To do that he would need Canelo Alvarez’s WBC belt and the belt from Saunders – once terms can be agreed with the WBO champ.
“Golovkin’s team has made me an offer, but we can’t take it seriously at the moment and it doesn’t make much sense. It’s not just about more money, but about where it will take place and other factors,” Saunders exclusively told World Boxing News.
“I’m not just going to go over to America to fight him, let him come to the UK, and let me have something my way. Even if they don’t want to offer the money that we asked for, we can negotiate that, but come to the UK.
“This fight isn’t all about GGG and it needs to work for both sides and Frank Warren is doing his utmost to try to get some things my way. It’s a hard fight as it is and I’m going into it as a big underdog, so at least let us have some things on our terms,” he added.
Billy Joe Saunders wants GGG
If the fight does happen, Billy Joe Saunders is confident he can be victorious. But if it does not get made soon, he is ready to look elsewhere.
“I’ve always said I will face anyone and I wouldn’t take the GGG fight if I didn’t think I could win. Look at Klitschko vs Fury, everyone ripped Fury saying he would get knocked out and then he went and won. No man on this earth is invincible and I’ve seen things in GGG that I could exploit – I would give it my all to get that victory,” he continued.
“By the end of this month if this fight isn’t made, it won’t happen in April. If I wasn’t a champion, I would have taken the fight without hesitation. But I’m not a challenger and I have other options to go and make money elsewhere. I want to be fighting four times a year so I need to start sorting things.
“Whoever my team put in front of me I will fight. I haven’t looked at anyone else yet because of the Golovkin offer but there are plenty of options out there for me. I Would love to fight Canelo or Cotto, and those fights can easily be made. Members of my team are well connected with Oscar De La Hoya so the Canelo fight can happen with ease – I would probably make more money from it to.”
Article by Matt Horan.
