By Tim Royner: Billy Joe Saunders is already trashing the Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Ryota Murata fight even though it still hasn’t been made. Earlier this week there were reports from Japan that Canelo (52-1-2, 36 KOs) will be facing WBA ‘regular’ middleweight champion Murata (16-2, 13 KOs) on May 24 at the Saitama Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Those reports have since been dismissed as fake news. However. WBO super middleweight champion Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) seems to believe that Canelo will still be facing Murata next, and he’s not happy about it one bit.
Billy Joe’s criticism of Canelo could sink his chances of fighting him
It would be a good idea for Saunders to tread lightly when trashing the superstar Canelo Alvarez, since he doesn’t respond well to be criticized by fighters. Canelo is the A-side, and the ”face of boxing.’ If he’s happy with the trash talk from Saunders, he could exclude him as a future opponent.
Saunders, 30, thinks the Canelo-Murata fight will be a “poor fight”, and he rates the Japanese star Murata as a “journeyman” despite the fact that he’s current world champion in holding own the WBA secondary 160-lb title.
Saunders taking harsh tone on Canelo vs. Murata
“Very poor fight for the fans. Two losses out of 18, he is a journeyman. DAZN needs to look at that and say, ‘F— off ginger p—,” said Saunders via@MichaelBensonn. “Put it in the bin,” Billy Joe said on Canelo’s WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight title.
It’s a good fight for Canelo and DAZN if he faces Murata. DAZN benefits with them being able to increase their reach in Japan, which is potentially a huge market. Canelo gets a huge payday fighting Murata, and picks a lot of new fans in the country of 126 million. When Murata fights, many people in Japan stop to watch him. That’s a great thing for Canelo and DAZN.
Canelo hasn’t confirmed that he’ll be fighting Murata next, and he may not take this fight. But if Canelo does face Murata, then it’s a good fight, and it’ll be entertaining for boxing fans worldwide. Murata is one of the best fighters in the 160 lb division, he’s a world champion, and a 2012 Olympic gold medalist.
The 34-year-old Murata has a lot going for, and he possesses and exciting fighting style. Although Murata has been beaten twice during his seven-year professional career, he avenged both losses to Rob Brant (25-2, 17 KOs) and Hassan N’Dam in knocking them out.
Murata’s 12 round split decision defeat to N’Dam (37-5, 21 KOs) in 2017 was a controversial one. A lot of people think Murata deserved the win. In their rematch in October 2017, Murata stopped N’Dam in the 7th round, and looked great.
Saunders is no strange to poor fights, as he’s had many in his 11-year professional career. In Saunders’ last three fights he’s faced poor opposition against the following fighters: Marcelo Esteban Coceres, Shefat Isufi and Charles Adamu.
Saunders is still in the running for Canelo’s next fight along with Callum Smith and Murata.