BILLY JOE SAUNDERS is seeking a step up in class against the likes of Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez after winning the WBO world middleweight title from Andy Lee on Saturday night.
Saunders dropped Lee twice and went on to earn a majority decision at the Manchester Arena and attention quickly turned to who the Hatfield man will face in 2016.
After a deserved break Saunders is keen to fight former WBC middleweight champion Cotto, or the man who recently won that title from him, Alvarez.
“Cotto, Canelo those are the types of fight I want now. Iโve arrived at a new level. I know I need to stay on form if I want to perform at this level,” he said.
“Iโve watched Cotto since I was a boy and Iโve always wanted that fight. Iโve got the style to beat him. Iโd take that fight next. That fight would be a dream and to go over to America for it would be an even bigger dream.
“Donโt rule out a rematch, Andy gave a good account of himself. Iโm sure we could do it at a big arena in London. It was a close fight, I canโt say I ran away with it. I didnโt beat a contender or a fake champion, he deserves a lot of respect.”
Saunders’ promoter, Frank Warren, insisted that both of those fights could easily come to fruition.
“Billy wants the Canelo fight and it’s something to think about. I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think that would be a difficult fight to make,” he stated.
“But it’s something I want to think about. For me, if we could make Cotto the next fight, we’d do it in a heartbeat. He’d beat Cotto.”
Plenty of fans are keen to see Saunders meet Chris Eubank Jnr in a rematch after narrowly outpointing him last year, but both Saunders and Warren were touchy on the subject.
Warren claimed an agreement had been reached for the pair to meet in the summer, but Eubank declined to sign the contract.
Eubank recently split with Matchroom Boxing in pursuit of a British title shot against Nick Blackwell, who Saunders has also beaten.
“He decided he wasnโt going to sign like heโs come kind of superstar. Iโm the world champion now, Iโve got the say,” Saunders said.
“The Eubanks are so difficult to work with. Iโm the world champion now and Iโll decide who I fight. Iโll have Christmas off but then Iโm on to bigger and better things. If the Eubank fight comes, itโs got to be for a lot of money but itโs on my rules.
“They talk about fighting for a world title but donโt have the balls to go and do it. Heโs going to fight someone I beat in 2012. Iโd rather give Nick Blackwell a shot than Eubank.
“Iโve been there and done it. Iโve beaten him. If the moneyโs right, put a blindfold on me, get me in the same condition I was tonight and I beat him. If he thinks he can start fast, heโll get caught early. For the Eubank fight I had a bodybuilding dietician, it didnโt suit my body. This time, different story. Iโve got a proper dietician.”
Saunders also conceded that Gennady Golovkin, who holds the WBA and IBF titles, is the man to beat at middleweight though still does not feel he is ready to face the Kazakh.
“Golovkin obviously is the man of the moment. But Iโm world champion now, I wonโt say no. Let Golovkin sit down, put the money on the table and letโs do business. Iโve got full trust in Frank Warren, I put my career in his hands,” he said.
“Golovkin, heโs the man. Youโve got to take your hat off to him, heโs a very good fighter. Fighter of the year in my opinion. Heโs struggling for opponents, I know he wants to win all the titles but Iโve got to do whatโs best for my career and I think Golovkin, realistically, Iโm 18 months away from that fight.”