As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, terms have been reached for a May unification between super middleweight champions Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders.
Canelo captured the WBC, WBA titles back in December, when he dominated unbeaten Callum Smith over twelve rounds in Texas.
He is back in action on February 27, when he makes a mandatory defense against Avni Yildirim in Miami, Florida.
Saunders, who likely won’t fight until May, admits he didn’t watch Canelo’s fight with Smith.
He believes Smith, by accepting the contest on short-notice, was underprepared and may have entered the ring for a money grab.
In the past, Saunders rejected an offer to face Canelo because he strongly felt there wasn’t enough time to properly prepare for such a fight.
“To tell you the truth I didn’t watch the Canelo vs Smith fight, I didn’t watch it. I’ve seen highlights. One thing Canelo Alvarez has never, ever, ever, ever done – he’s never fought a gypsy man, never. I’ve got something inside of me burning so strong that I’ll give my life, my soul, my everything to get the win,” Saunders told Talk Sport.
“Some people go in there and they get blinded by the money, they get blinded by the lights, they get blinded by what could be. That don’t bother me, keep all that, have it. I don’t want the fame, I don’t wanna be seen, I don’t wanna be known by people on the street, don’t want any of that. I want the win, that’s all I want, that’s all I’m after.
“And I just felt that [Smith] taking the fight on five, six weeks’ notice was just a sign of, ‘I’m gonna go in there, get my money and I’ll see you all later.’ So I didn’t really tune in. I wanna see someone who’s going in there fully focused on doing a job – and that’s to win. Do I blame Smith for taking that chance? I don’t know, but he didn’t go in with a winning mentality.”
