Tag: BJ Saunders

Eddie Hearn still confident Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez

Promoter Eddie Hearn still believes that BJ Saunders will get his chance to face Canelo Alvarez, despite the coronavirus…

Not so fast.

Promoter Eddie Hearn says his charge Billy Joe Saunders still has “a deal in place” to face Canelo Alvarez in the summer, should health concerns allow it, despite a a recent report that Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin had agreed to terms on a third fight in September.

The projected Alvarez-Saunders title bout in May was never announced because of the ravaging effects of the coronavirus, which has upended sports programming around the globe.

“(Alvarez-Saunders) now depends when the sport begins again,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “Because that fight was supposed to take place on Cinco de Mayo. Now that’s definitely not happening.”

Hearn, ever the optimist, believes the fight can still happen if the coronavirus threat subsides considerably by the summer.

“Will boxing return in June, July?” he said. “If it does, then there’s every chance that Billy Joe will fight Canelo Alvarez during that period. And the date of the Golovkin fight will be pushed back.”

Saunders is a super middleweight titleholder, which means Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) would have an opportunity to win a legitimate title in a fourth division. He won what the WBA calls its “regular” 168-pound title when he stopped Rocky Fielding in 2018 but Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize that belt.

One silver lining for Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) is that he wouldn’t have to travel far should an Alvarez fight materialize.

“Right now Billy Joe is in Las Vegas training,” Hearn said. “We were supposed to have a press conference on Monday to announce the Canelo Alvarez fight, so he’s out there training with (trainer) Ben Davison and (junior welterweight titleholder) Josh Taylor, who just had his fight postponed from May 2.

“No one knows what they’re doing. It’s a moment where you got to stay focused, you’ve got to stay disciplined. I believe Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez as long as the boxing schedule returns in the summer.”

Canelo Alvarez: Potential foes are asking for too much money

Canelo Alvarez is frustrated that potential opponents for his May 2 date are asking for too much money.

Canelo Alvarez is frustrated.

The Mexican superstar is still without an opponent for his annual May fight date and, to him, the reason is obvious.

“Because they want a lot of money,” he told ESPN Deportes. “When they go to fight with Canelo they want the moon and the stars. That is the complication.

“But there are many opponents, and there has to be one out there. I’m ready for anyone.”

Alvarez reportedly is close to a deal to fight super middleweight titleholder Billy Joe Saunders of England on May 2 but we’re heard that refrain before.

Golden Boy Promotions, Alvarez’s promoter, reportedly has made offers — or at least put out feelers — to Saunders, Callum Smith, Caleb Plant, Ryota Murata and who knows who else.

None have been willing to accept the amount of money being offered. Hence Alvarez’s frustration.

Murata, the Japanese middleweight contender, also reportedly was close to a deal but talks eventually cratered. It’s not clear what the reason was. Nevertheless, Alvarez, 29, is set on fighting in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“I want to end the year by fighting in Japan if God is willing. That is the idea,” Canelo said, according to BoxingScene.com.

Murata, a gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, was an undefeated professional until he was upset by Rob Brandt in 2018. He avenged the loss the following year with an early knockout. At 34, Murata has yet to face an elite opponent.

An Alvarez-Murata fight is thought to be attractive to streaming app DAZN, which has exclusive rights to Alvarez and maintains a relationship with Murata.

Alvarez also reiterated his desire to some day fight in his homeland of Mexico, which he has not done since 2011.

“Maybe not this year, but the next [year I will fight in Mexico].” Alvarez said. “There are possibilities to return to Mexico. I am delighted to come to Mexico. It can be anywhere in Mexico.”

Oscar De La Hoya: ‘Nobody wants to fight Canelo’

Oscar De La Hoya has offered deals to BJ Saunders and Callum Smith to fight Canelo Alvarez in May, but both camps said ‘no’…what gives?

Canelo Alvarez is a cash cow, meaning he generates a gaudy amount of money for everyone around him. That includes his opponents. So why then is he still without a dance partner for his annual May fight date?

Golden Boy Promotion’s CEO Oscar De La Hoya, Alvarez’s promoter, is stumped as well.

De La Hoya expressed his incredulity in an interview during the DAZN broadcast of the Ryan Garca-Francisco Fonseco card Friday night. Recently, reports have circulated that Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith, the presumed front-runners to fight Alvarez on May 2, rejected offers from De La Hoya.

“It’s funny because everybody talks a big game,” De La Hoya said. “I want Canelo. I can beat Canelo. Well that’s BS. Nobody wants to fight Canelo. They’re all afraid of him. He is the superstar in boxing. And if you fight him, you’ll make the most money. What’s the problem? Pull the trigger.” 

Saunders and Smith are still engaged in negotiations, according to The Athletic. Presumably, the initial offers fell short of what either fighter wanted to fight Alvarez. Recent Alvarez opponents Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev earned in the neighborhood of $12 million, a gargantuan purse compared to their typical paydays. It’s not a stretch to think that both Saunders and Smith are angling for a similar financial package.

“I’ve offered B.J. Saunders a fight, and he’s balking at it,” De La Hoya said. “I’ve offered Smith a fight, and he’s balking at it. I have four other guys that I can negotiate with and talk to. If you guys don’t take it, we’re moving on to  somebody else. But [Alvarez] will fight in May.” 

In the end, the bucks stops with De La Hoya. He knows he is fighting against the clock to consummate a deal for his most important client.

“Time is running out,” he told DAZN. “I have until Sunday … or Monday the latest or I’m moving on.”