Billy Joe Saunders has confirmed he is eyeing up a return to the ring in 2023, and has mentioned some potential opponents he is targeting for the tail end of the year.
Saunders has revealed that he’s was eyeing up the likes of Callum Smith, Liam Smith and Demetrius Andrade as candidates for a big money dust up.
In an interview with IFL TV, Saunders said:
“If you look at the opponents out there at the moment, you’ve got your Callum Smiths, your Liam Smiths and your Andrades – still elite fighters. Those are the fighters I want.
“Obviously I’ll have a fight to get back in there and shake a bit of ring rust off, then I want to jump in at the elite end.”
The former two weight world champion has not fought since a stoppage loss to Canelo Álvarez in 2021, a fight in which the Mexican inflicted a broken orbital bone upon him.
One man who does not appear to be on Saunders’ radar is long time foe Chris Eubank Jr, who was stopped by Liam Smith at the Manchester Arena.
The pair locked horns in a middleweight British title fight all the way back in 2014, when the former Olympian edged a close decision over Eubank.
However, Saunders stated he does not fancy going over old ground and is targeting more “well established” fighters than ‘Next Gen’
“At the stage of my career coming up, I don’t really want to be getting in there with someone like Eubank, it’s not in the script.”
“Don’t get me wrong, if it’s stupid money then money talks. But I’m looking to get in there with well established fighters, rather than just getting in there with someone because of his dad’s name.”
Fans of Saunders will look forward to further news on his ring return.