Billy Joe Saunders relative inactivity since winning the WBO middleweight title is set to end on September 16th when he faces Willie Monroe Jnr at the Copper Box Arena.
Saunders takes on the American just a week after the mega-fight, in Las Vegas, between Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, a fight in which all the other world middleweight world titles will be at stake.
Saunders won his world title back in 2015 and should have fought Avtandil Khurtsidze in July, but the Georgian was arrested, in New York, forcing the fight to be called off.
The Hatfield fighter has never been short of a few words when it comes to promoting his cause and ahead of the fight with Monroe Jnr and has predicted a win for himself remarking to the media,
‘I think it is going to be a very close fight but I already have the mental edge over him.
‘He said he was done against Golovkin and that’s not what a warrior would do. I’d rather get knocked out cold than quit.’
Monroe Jnr has only two blemishes on his professional career, one being a points? loss and the other a six round stoppage against the fearsome Golovkin.
But the 30-year-old American also remains confident of his chances, commenting to the media,
‘I gave a good account of myself against Golovkin but I will admit that I got caught up in the moment.
‘Billy Joe has had a lot of luxuries throughout his career that I haven’t had. All of his fights have been in his own backyard. He hasn’t had to go into the lion’s den to prove himself.’
Saunders is unbeaten in his 24 fights and the 27-year-old knows an impressive victory could set up a huge unification match with the winner of the Alvarez v Golovkin clash, with his promoter, Frank Warren remarking to the media,
‘If Bill comes through, we are pushing hard for the winner.
‘If Golovkin wins, I hope we can do that fight in December. If Canelo wins, it could be in the new-year. Bill has to go out there and prove a point. There is a lot on the line.’
Interesting times ahead in the middleweight division!
A Saunders Win Makes the Sky the Limit
