By Dan Ambrose: Things aren’t looking favorable for a fight between Billy Joe Saunders and superstar Canelo Alvarez for September 2020. Earlier this year, Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) and Canelo were in the process of getting a fight made for May 2, but the pandemic altered those plans.
Golden Boy Promotions are rumored to be looking at other options for Canelo’s next fight, Sergiy Derevyanchenko was a name mentioned. Although Golden Boy president Eric Gomez came out and said that was false news, they are likely looking at other options for the Mexican star.
Saunders’ situation not looking suitable for Canelo fight
It will be surprising if Saunders gets the fight with Canelo right now because the money situation has changed due to the pandemic. If Canelo is forced to fight without a crowd, then it’ll be hard to pay his opponent the same kind of money they would have gotten with a live audience.
Saunders, 30, doesn’t know what’s going to happen with the Canelo fight. Although the WBO 168-pound champion Saunders is still interested in facing Alvarez, he doubts it’ll happen in September. Moreover, Saunders states that if it’s not 100% right in terms of the contract, he won’t take it.
Billy Joe doesn’t elaborate on what he would have an issue with in negotiations with Canelo, but it likely would have to do with things like a rehydration clause, and things of that nature.
Saunders unsure if Canelo fight happens
“Everyone is working really hard,” said Saunders to IFL TV on a possible fight with him and Canelo Alvarez in 2020. “Eddie Hearn is trying his best.
“We’re trying to get that fight made, but to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going to happen [with Canelo fight],” said Saunders.
With only three months to go before Canelo fights in September, Saunders’ position appears hopeless. Golden Boy needs to pick Alvarez’s next opponent right NOW, as they have only three months before the Mexican holiday in September.
Canelo likes to fight on the Mexican holidays, so he needs his next opponent to be selected as soon as possible for that date.
Unfortunately for Saunders, he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. With the travel ban in the U.S and lack of a live audience for boxing events, it’s hard to see him getting the Canelo fight now.
It’s just bad luck for Saunders, you can say. He’s been after a fight with Alvarez many years, and when he finally gets a chance to face him, the pandemic ruins his dream. The only thing Saunders can do is to keep winning and hope that Canelo looks in his direction in 2021 or 2022.
If Saunders is going to get a fight with Canelo, it’ll be in the next two years. But that can’t happen if Saunders gets picked off by one of the top fighters at 168. Saunders wants to fight a unification match with WBA super-middleweight champion Callum Smith.
It would be a good idea for Saunders to put off the fight with Smith unless he’s sure he’ll win. If Saunders loses to Callum, then he can forget about ever getting a match against Canelo. The only thing Saunders has got going for him is his WBO strap.
Billy Joe won’t fight Alvarez if it’s not 100% right
“Whether it’s $100 million or $200 million or f***** ten pence, if I’m not 100% right and they try to spring stuff on me, I WON’T take it,” said Saunders on the Canelo match.
At this point, it looks like Golden Boy is searching for other options for Canelo’s next fight. Saunders isn’t in a position to reject anything, given that Canelo is expected to face someone else.
Interestingly, Saunders sounds like he’s the one that holds the cards in the negotiations with Canelo. Saunders isn’t in the position where he can reject things in the talks with Alvarez. If he doesn’t agree with what Canelo wants, he’ll just move on and face someone else.
Saunders looked flawed, weak, and vulnerable in his last fight against Marcelo Coceres last November. He was getting beaten by the Argentinian up until the 11th when he pulled out the victory in scoring a knockout.
In Saunders’ fight before that against Shefat Isufi, he looked just as bad in struggling to win a 12 round decision in May of last year. Isufi staggered Saunders in the fourth round with a big punch.
Those two fights showed that Saunders isn’t cut out for the 168-pound division, and it’s only a matter of time before someone beats him. It’s too bad Saunders can no longer make the 160-pound division because he lacks the pop in his punches to beat the cream of the crop at super middleweight.
Saunders: Canelo fight not likely for September
“So it is what it is. There’s a chance [Canelo fight still takes place], but in September, probably not,” said Billy Joe. “All I can do is keep winning. I’m not going to worry about that fight. I’m not desperate for their money. I’ve got enough money to feed my family.
“I do what the right decision is for me. I’m not working to develop Canelo’s career. I’m working on my own career. So if it suits, it suits. If it doesn’t suit, then it’s not the end of the world,” said Saunders in talking about Canelo Alvarez match.
One way for Saunders to eventually get the Canelo fight would be for him to beat some of the notable guys in the 168-lb division. If Saunders can beat these fighters, he’ll increase his chances of a Canelo fight:
- Callum Smith
- Caleb Plant
- David Benavidez
- Daniel Jacobs
- Caleb Truax
- Aidos Yerbossynuly
There’s a good chance that Saunders loses to Benavidez, Plant, and Jacobs. If Saunders had more power in his punches, he’d be competitive with them. Unfortunately, Saunders is arguably punching with the force of a 154-pounder, and not a strong one at that.
Even if Saunders were looking unbeatable at 168, he still wouldn’t likely get the Canelo fight. It would probably hurt Saunders’ chance of fighting Canelo if he were looking unbeatable like Benavidez and Plant.
