Eric Gomez: Canelo vs. Saunders was NEVER finalized, no contract signed

By Boxing News - 04/17/2020 - Comments

By Charles Brun: Golden Boy Promotions president revealed that Canelo Alvarez NEVER signed a contract for a fight against Billy Joe Saunders to fight him. The deal was never finalized, according to Gomez.

As of now, Gomez isn’t sure who will be the next opponent for the 29-year-old Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs) when boxing starts back up.

Saunders still under consideration 

Gomez says Saunders will be one of many potential opponents for Canelo that they’ll be exploring later on. Saunders is under suspension right now by the British Boxing Board of Control due to a disturbing video he posted recently.

If the sport continues to be sidelined until after the summer, then it’s likely that Canelo will move on and face another fighter. With the game at a standstill for months, Canelo needs to make his next fight count.

Facing Saunders in another tune-up fight is a waste of time, and not worthy of consideration. Canelo doesn’t need tune-ups at this point in his career. He’s not quality opposition that will push him, and show whether he deserves to receive the hype he’s been receiving.

Since signing a big 11-fight, $365 million contract with the streaming giant, has wins over these fighters:

  • Sergey Kovalev
  • Rocky Fielding
  • Daniel Jacobs

The one tough fighter that Canelo has fought in three fights with DAZN is Daniel Jacobs, who gave him a run for his money in 2019.  If Canelo fights Saunders, that will make it 3 out of 4 of his contests with DAZN being against lesser opposition.

Image: Eric Gomez: Canelo vs. Saunders was NEVER finalized, no contract signed

Canelo needs a recognizable opponent

When the sport does restart, DAZN is likely going to want Canelo to face Gennadiy Golovkin so that the streaming giant can bring back the many subscribers that they’ve recently lost due to the global pandemic.

While Saunders is a good opponent for Canelo to pad his credentials, he brings nothing whatsoever to the table as far as attracting subscribers.

If the pandemic had never hit, Saunders would have been an enjoyable stay busy fight for Canelo to get in a straightforward battle before moving on to the serious business of facing the always dangerous GGG.

But with DAZN losing a lot of subscribers, it’s essential that Canelo makes his next fight count by facing GGG or risky guys like David Benavidez, Artur Beterbiev, or Dmitry Bivol.

“Saunders WAS being considered, but there are other considerations that we have,” said Gomez to Sky Sports Boxing.  “We never finalized. [Saunders] was being considered, but there are other considerations that we have. There is no signed contract.

“We were very close to finalizing details for this fight when [the coronavirus] hit.

“He will be one of the names considered. “Possibly. We won’t know until we are ready to start business again,” said Gomez.”

Matchroom Boxing USA promoter Eddie Hearn will be disappointed if Canelo doesn’t face Saunders, as he promotes him. If not Saunders, then Hearn will be hoping that Callum Smith gets picked. Smith one of the names that Canelo was considering before he selected Saunders.

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