Options in the fight game are good and right now Billy Joe Saunders has a few. His smart majority points victory to wrestle the WBO middleweight title from Andy Lee paves the way for domestic dustups and even top-tier fights against the likes of Daniel Jacobs and Miguel Cotto.
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But as the Hatfield Olympian ripped out a roar into the Manchester air on Saturday in celebration of the biggest win of his career, fight fans across the globe let out a collective sigh.
One of the options for the 26-year-old would see him pitted against the most dangerous fighter on the planet in Gennady Golovkin for a unification clash that could then, assuming he wins, see the fighting pride of Kazakhstan fight for undisputed honours against Mexican Canelo Alvarez.
Now, though, that looks extremely unlikely given earlier this year Saunders claimed the KO King would beat both he and Chris Eubank Jr on the same day.
He reiterated that point in the aftermath of Saturday: “He (Golovkin) wants to clear up and win all the titles, but I’ve got to do what’s best for my career. I think I’m 18 months away from that fight.”
CHRIS EUBANK JR VS BILLY JOE SAUNDERS FOR THE WORLD TITLE… LET’S GET IT ON #2016 #TEAMEUBANK
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) December 19, 2015
He’s not ready for it and Saturday night showed why. The respect between the two proud Travellers – arguably too much of it for the paying 7,000 spectators liking – meant that those expecting a bloody tear-up were left decidedly disappointed.
The two fighters, well aware of each other’s strengths, were too cagey and, but for two knockdowns in the third, it was a clash that simmered without every really boiling over.
The two right-handed knockdowns fittingly separated the pair in the end and although it was a tactical triumph for Saunders, his poor stamina reared itself again with the final five rounds more akin to shadow boxing than that of fighters born from a community of bare-knuckle brawlers.
Regardless, talk invariably then moved towards Saunders facing Golovkin. But with Eubank Jr back on the market after leaving Matchroom, who failed to secure the purse bid for a fight with Nick Blackwell, and seeking a world title fight, a rematch is an easy sell that does not carry the same danger for Saunders as Triple G does.
It also wouldn’t require him to travel abroad and having exploited the gaps in Eubank Jr’s game, will feel he can do so once more.
So where does that leave the other major middleweight players? Many were irked by the WBC’s decision to allow the biggest fight of 2016, providing Floyd Mayweather does not rematch Manny Pacquiao, between Alvarez and Golovkin to be delayed until September to allow for two interim bouts.
There are those in the boxing world who voiced their distaste but allowing that clash to marinate makes the most business sense. In the interim, Alvarez having come of age in his signature win over Cotto last time out, will see Jorge Sebastian Heiland, the man ranked behind him before he eased to victory over the Puerto Rican, as a viable option.
On that possible match-up Golden Boy executive Eric Gomez told Ring magazine: “First, Canelo versus Golovkin is, I think, the next mega-fight in boxing.
“Canelo does want it…it will happen. And next for Canelo? May 7 is the date. As far as opponent goes, Canelo is on vacation. We’ve agreed we’ll all meet up the second week of January to discuss that.”
For Golovkin, it’s likely he will take on Bahamian banger Tureano Johnson who is currently ranked No1 by the IBF. He’s made it clear he wants it and it’s a fight that makes sense.
When broached on the subject K2’s Tom Loeffler said. “Our goal is the biggest fights. Lee-Saunders winner would be a priority because we want to unify.”
That looks an unlikely scenario, at least for now and so fight fans are left with little option but to wait patiently for the best to fight the best. Still, 2016 promises to be a thrilling year for the division.
