By Dan Ambrose: #13 WBC former world title challenger Gabriel Rosado (23-9, 13 KOs) reportedly is in the running for a fight against unbeaten WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) on the undercard of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Liam Smith card on September 17 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Golden Boy Promotions are looking to add Saunders to the undercard of the fight card with the possible idea of matching Canelo against him later this year in December or at some point in the near future.
Golden Boy wants to move Canelo up to middleweight soon, and a fight against Saunders is thought to be Canelo’s first at the full weight of 160 pounds.
“Want to see this match up on Canelo-Smith card 9/17?! #UK🇬🇧 #USA🇺🇸 #Boxing #Ppv #WorldTitle #WBO… God knows best… #Faith,” said Rosado on his Twitter. “Y’all got my number, you know where to find me. Let’s make it happen! 9/17. If all works out in the next couple days the UK will be very interested in my next bout… #GodWilling.”
This could prove to be a very difficult fight for the 26-year-old Saunders. He’s faded in the second half of two out of his last three fights since 2014. Saunders looked good for the first six rounds last December in beating Andy Lee, but he fell completely apart in the second half of the fight. The only reason Saunders won that fight was because Lee didn’t go on the attack hard enough in the last six rounds to get the victory.
Saunders also gassed out in the 2nd half of his fight against Chris Eubank Jr. in November 2014. Saunders won the fight by a narrow 12 round split decision, but he could have easily lost the bout if Eubank Jr. had fought in a serious manner in the first half. In Saunders’ fight against Yoann Bloyer last year in July, he weighed in at 173 pounds, and appeared to be in the 190s during the fight. He was badly over-weight.
This would be a good fight for Saunders if it comes off. Rosado fought well in winning his last two fights against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Gutierrez. Before those fights, Rosado, 30, had gone through a rough patch in his career with him losing four of five fights from 2013 to 2014. Those losses came against quality fighters in Golovkin, Peter Quillin, Jermell Charlo and David Lemieux. Rosado dodged a loss in his fight against J’Leon Love in May of 2013 in losing the fight by a 12 round split decision. The outcome was changed to a no decision after Love tested positive for a banned substance.
Saunders was supposed to defend his title recently against fringe contender Max Bursak, but he suffered an injury in training camp. It would have likely been a mismatch. Rosado would be a huge upgrade in talent. It would be a risky fight for Saunders because Rosado can punch.
For Rosado, it would give him a chance to pick up the WBO middleweight title and potentially earn a big money fight against Canelo this year.