What Is The Status of Billy Joe Saunders Vs. Canelo Alvarez?

At one point, fans were excited at the potential opportunity of a clash between Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders. Scheduled for May, the coronavirus affected plans for a bout. Now, it appears that there may be other factors involved that may bring us further away from it happening.

Speaking with IFL TV, Saunders (29-0) talked about how talks have slowed down. Trainer Eddy Reynoso recently discussed plans for Canelo in the next few months and listed Saunders as a potential opponent. He also listed Caleb Plant, David Benavidez, and Gennadiy Golovkin. The latter is someone Canelo is interested in facing for a third time, even if Golovkin is delaying the bout to focus on other fights. Saunders, who was skeptical before about a Canelo bout, isn’t as confident now.

“[Matchroom Boxing head and promoter] Eddie Hearn is trying his best. We’re trying to get [the Alvarez] fight made, but to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Saunders stated, via Boxing Scene. “So it is what it is. There’s a chance [Canelo fight still takes place], but in September, probably not … All I can do is keep winning. I’m not going to worry about that fight. I’m not desperate for their money. I’ve got enough money to feed my family.”

Saunders won the WBO Middleweight Title back in 2015 over Andy Lee. He relinquished the belt in 2018 after testing positive for a banned substance. Returning to the ring a few months later, he won the WBO Super-Middleweight Title in a fight against Shefat Isufi. His last fight was a TKO-win over Marcelo Esteban Coceres back in November.

Along with the coronavirus, Saunders must also deal with the consequences of his own actions. Saunders posted and deleted a controversial video on social media, instructing men on how to hit women. He was suspended of his license by the British Boxing Board of Control. The BBBofC have been waiting for Saunders and his team to send papers back so he could potentially be granted his license back.

Saunders has stated he is interested in working out a deal with Demetrius Andrade once again. While he would like to face Canelo, he needs to make sure he is ready mentally and physically for the matchup.

“Whether it’s $100 million or $200 million or fuck— ten pence, if I’m not 100% right and they try to spring stuff on me, I won’t take it,” Saunders went on to say. “I do what the right decision is for me. I’m not working to develop Canelo’s career. I’m working on my own career. So if it suits, it suits. If it doesn’t suit, then it’s not the end of the world.”

The hope is that Canelo will make an announcement on his fight future soon.