Trainer Dave Coldwell sees Billy Joe Saunders as taking too big of a step up in class on May 8th when he faces superstar Canelo Alvarez. Coldwell questions whether Billy Joe (30-0, 14 KOs) can win rounds against Canelo’s talent (55-1-2, 37 KOs).
Saunders’ lack of punching power will make it difficult for him to impress the judges because Canelo will be landing the harder shots in each round, making it tough on Billy Joe.
Canelo will have his WBA/WBC super middleweight straps on the line when he takes on WBO champion Saunders in their unification fight on May 8th on DAZN at a still-to-be-determined venue.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing is eyeing the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and the Allegiant Stadium in La Vegas, Nevada, as a potential venue for the match.
Saunders’ inconsistency
“Canelo Alvarez has competed at the top, the highest level, regular for years and years,” said Coldwell to Fred Talks Fighting.
“Billy has been a bit inactive, and he’s blown hot and cold in his performances.
“He has definitely got the skillset and the ability to cause problems for Canelo, but whether or not, over the course of 12 rounds. That’s enough to win any of the rounds or to keep Canelo off him,” said Coldwell.
The difference in the quality of opposition between Canelo and Saunders is huge. Really, Saunders hasn’t taken on the best, and it’s hard not to think that’s been done intentionally by him or his promoters.
Saunders’ last real test was in 2014 with his narrow 12 round decision win over Chris Eubank Jr. Other than that fight, Saunders’ next best win came against Andy Lee in 2015. That was a close fight, too, with Billy Joe gassing down the stretch.
Since the Lee fight, Saunders has been matched with appears to be utter care by his promoters, putting him with flawed B-level fighters like David Lemieux, Willie Monroe Jr, Shefat Isufi, and Artur Akavov.
Now all of a sudden, we’re to believe that Saunders will be capable of beating a truly elite fighter in Canelo. It’s not believable.
There’s obviously a reason why Saunders’ promoters haven’t put him in with the talented opposition, and on May 8th, we’ll find out why.
Will Saunders pull out with an injury?
It’s an understatement by Coldwell for him to discuss the inactivity issues that Saunders, 31, has had over the last 12 years of his career.
Saunders hasn’t been dependable on staying healthy enough to make it through his training camps to fight his opponents on time.
Frankly, it’ll be surprising if Billy Joe makes it to the Canelo fight on May 8th without suffering an injury and needing the match to be postponed.
“I think Canelo wins the fight, to be honest. I struggle to see Billy winning the fight,” Coldwell continued.
“There is a big difference between when you compete at a good level to when you are competing at an elite level.”
It’s purely obvious that Canelo wins this fight and does it with ease on May 8th.
The only improvement that Saunders will show from Canelo’s last two opponents Avni Yildirim and Callum Smith, is that he won’t fight with his back against the ropes.
.Saunders will use movement and try and outsmart Canelo. It won’t work, but at least he’ll try.
It’ll be more interesting to watch because Saunders will present a riddle for Canelo to try and solve, and it may take him a few rounds before he figures out what he needs to do to win.
It would be nice if Saunders is willing to go out on his shield by fighting hard rather than shell-up the way Callum Smith and Yildirim both did against Canelo.