Saunders addresses injury, GGG and ‘cheat’ Canelo

Boxingnews24.com

WBO world middleweight king Billy Joe Saunders has reiterated his desire to unify the division and offered “cheat” Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez some diet tips.

Saunders (26-0-KO12) is recovering from the hand injury that forced him to delay a defence against Martin Murray until June 23 but remains determined to earn his showdown with WBA Super, WBC and IBF champion Gennady Golovkin this year.

Golovkin had been due to take on Alvarez in a rematch only for the Mexican to fail a drugs test – drawing severe disapproval from Saunders.

Saunders said: “I think ‘Canelo’ has been caught out and I think he’s an absolute cheat and an absolute liar. End of story.

“There are no excuses. The one he’s tried to use is the oldest trick in the book and it’s absolute rubbish. He should get a lengthy, lengthy ban for what he’s done.

“As a traveller, I’ve always lived off the land. Rabbits, squirrel, roadkill – I eat them all and there’s no chance of my meat being ‘contaminated’ as he claims because it’s straight off the land and on to the plate. He’s lying anyway.

“As for a replacement opponent for GGG, I hear they’re getting some light-middleweight Mexican but I’d much rather see Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan get the fight. I’ve fought a lot of GGG’s opponents and he can fight mine.”

While Saunders has a healthy respect for five-time world title challenger Murray (36-4-1-KO17), he admits he’s been dreaming of holding all-four belts in a single division for as long as he can remember and is prepared to travel to face Golovkin if necessary.

Saunders added: “I’d like home advantage in that fight but since I was a kid I’ve dreamt of a huge unification fight in Las Vegas. That’d be nice.

“I’m not interested in fighting anyone else. Golovkin is the one I want. He keeps saying he wants to unify – well here I am and I’m ready to have it with him.

“My hand is improving day by day. I’m already tapping away with it and I’m on track. I’m not looking past Murray because he’s a dangerous opponent but I’m inspired by what winning my next fight could bring.”

Saunders put on arguably the greatest performance of his unbeaten career last time out – schooling Canada’s David Lemieux in the challenger’s back yard in Laval.

Follow Billy Joe Saunders on Twitter @bjsaunders_