Can unbeaten Billy Joe Saunders, the WBO middleweight champion, do something, anything, against middleweight king Gennady Golovkin? Triple-G called out the southpaw last night, just after he had broken and beaten a brave Kell Brook, and Saunders, 23-0(12) has answered in kind, saying on social media how he is “ready when you are.”
Saunders has not yet boxed this year, his last ring appearance coming in December of 2015, when he scored a most impressive points win over Irishman Andy Lee. 27 year-old Saunders is set to see action, against a TBA, on the upcoming October 29 Fury-Klitschko II card in Manchester and after that Saunders says he will be happy to get it on with GGG.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Kell Brook is a welterweight, not a middleweight. I am a fully fledged middleweight,” BJS wrote. “Golovkin, no problem at all, I should imagine you should be around(in the UK) for a couple of days and I’ve been on to my management this morning, we’ll definitely get it on. I definitely want you on your next available date. I am fighting October 29, so Golovkin, I am ready when you are. I will give the fans what they want to see. I see faults and flaws in you last night that I know I can pick out.”
So will GGG, 36-0(33) make a second trip to the UK to do battle? Saunders, a slick and capable operator who is, as he says, a natural middleweight, would certainly be a credible foe for GGG, and if the two can come to a deal, this time, then maybe London, or Manchester, will get the Triple-G treatment in late 2016 or early 2017. Saunders has beaten Chris Eubank Junior, who was supposedly all set to fight GGG before the contract expired and Brook stepped in, and he has shown power, durability, speed and class throughout his pro career.
Can Saunders test GGG? Can any fighter around 154 to 168 do so? Maybe not, but Saunders is probably the most interesting opponent for GGG this side of Canelo Alvarez and maybe Danny Jacobs (or maybe Eubank Jr, if he really, truly wants the fight). UK fight fans might be lucky enough to get a second GGG night if Saunders really does step up to the table next.