Roy Jones Jr.: Billy Joe Saunders Has A Really Good Chance Beating Canelo

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. isn’t counting out Billy Joe Saunders ahead of the showdown with Canelo Alvarez.

This Saturday night, May 8, Canelo and Saunders will collide in a super-middleweight title fight. Canelo’s WBA, WBC, and The Ring gold will be up for grabs, while Saunders will put his WBO Championship on the line.

Jones scooped up world titles in multiple weight classes, including super-middleweight, during his pro days. He told iFL TV that he thinks Saunders has a decent shot at dethroning Canelo (via Boxing Scene).

“I give Billy Joe a really good chance. The reason being is because if you think about Canelo Alvarez, the toughest two fights he’s had in his career to me were Floyd Mayweather Jr., who’s a pure boxer, and a southpaw by the name of Erislandy Lara, who was a boxer.”

“So if you think about those two guys, who’s Billy Joe closely related to the boxing ring? Those two guys. He’s a boxer, he’s southpaw, and he can punch, but he thinks boxing first, much like Tyson Fury. When you got a guy like that, the only problem Billy Joe’s gonna have is, can he last long enough early to get to those late rounds without sustaining any injuries, cuts, headbutts, anything.

“He has to figure out how to make up for that ring rust before he gets in there, because if he can get into the fight right away, he has a very good chance of winning it. If he doesn’t get into the fight right away, then he’ll get blown away, but he’s a very smart guy, he’s a boxer, he’s a smart boxer. With that being said, he should have a chance in this fight.”

The winner of Canelo vs. Saunders could be due for a title unification bout against IBF Champion Caleb Plant.