Billy Joe Saunders and Martin Murray faced the media and one another for the first time since their April 14th WBO world middleweight title fight became official.
It was revealed that the doubleheader which will also see Terry Flanagan challenge for the vacant WBO lightweight title against undefeated American Maurice Hooker.
https://twitter.com/boxnationtv/status/955104221791072256
However, this fight with Murray has been perceived as somewhat of a keep busy fight. Saunders it seems is currently on the outside of the middleweight unification picture looking in.
Especially now that both Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin seem certain to reach an agreement. That agreement is expected to be coming which will see them add a second instalment to their rivalry.
Saunders touched on his targets after his thorough dismantling of Canadian David Lemieux in December.
He shared that his goal moving forwards would be to become the undisputed world middleweight champion in 2018.
The southpaw also shared he believes the fellow middleweight champions in Canelo and Golovkin are not scared to fight him.
The WBO World Middleweight Champ @bjsaunders_ will be back on April 14th against @MartinMurrayBox 😎 pic.twitter.com/8KFjFea6Dt
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) January 22, 2018
Saunders was instead complimentary branding them warriors. But was quick to add, they have seen something they don’t like when watching him.
“I’m not saying they’re scared [Golovkin and Canelo] because they’re warriors.”
“There’s just something about me that most people want to steer off now,’ Saunders said at the press conference today.
Saunders believes the one-sided nature of his clash with Lemieux has played a major role in putting off potential suitors.
That clash was widely looked at as a genuine 50-50 affair prior to the fight, but Saunders ring generalship and boxing IQ didn’t allow the Canadian to do anything of substance.
The undefeated WBO world middleweight champion says that the performance did wonders for his stock and standing in his division. But was quick to add, the victory has made business difficult.
https://twitter.com/MTKGlobal/status/955380798873636864
“The Canada performance was good in one way and bad in another because it was good for my stock, but bad for business.”
“Golovkin and Canelo are not scared, but the people looking after them, they [GGG and Canelo] are they’re cash cows.”
“They’re the ones bringing the money in. So they don’t want someone coming in and giving them a hard night’s work or even beating them because that’s just putting spanner in the works.”
READ MORE:
Mikey Garcia: The ultimate goal is to be the best of this generation
Lawrence Okolie: I’m about action not talk!