Billy Joe Saunders has until July 22 to agree to defend his title against number one contender Demetrius Andrade.
The middleweight champion, currently linked to domestic fights with James DeGale and Martin Murray, recently informed WBN of his intentions to seek out enormous challenges.
Due to the nature of Andrade’s reputation as a firm member of the ‘Who Needs Him Club,’ there’s a real possibility Saunders will now vacate the WBO title in his possession.
Billy Joe Saunders
Saunders, speaking in an exclusive interview with WBN last week, had said the following:
“I’m not saying I want to vacate. It’s one of them. If a big fight came, and it meant me moving up a weight, and Frank could speak to the WBO, that’d be great. I’m happy to be the middleweight champion of the world.
“I find that these belts now get in the way of big fights – I’m the world’s middleweight champion, but it can hold up these big, big fights.
“I held onto my belt because GGG wanted the final piece of the puzzle, but then he got stripped of his IBF, so it’s not a full unification between himself and me anymore.”
WBO order
The email obtained by WBN ordering Saunders v Andrade reads as follows:
July 12th, 2018
To:
MR. FRANK WARREN QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
To Mr. DEMETRIUS ANDRADE
Mr. EDWARD FARRIS MANAGER
Re: WBO Middleweight Title Bout Negotiations Billy Joe Saunders vs. Demetrius Andrade
Gentlemen:
Please be advised the parties have ten days (10) upon receipt of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement concerning the WBO Middleweight Title Bout between Billy Joe Saunders and Demetrius Andrade. If an accord does not come within the time frame stated herein, a Purse Bid will be ordered under our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.
The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO Middleweight division is $200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars). Any parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process.
Yours truly,
Luis Batista Salas, Esq.
Cc: Francisco Valcárcel, Esq.
Star Boxing, Inc.
Banner Promotions
