WBO orders Saunders to fight two mandatory challengers back to back

[DannyMCR]

The World Boxing Organization has ordered WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) to fight back to back mandatory defenses of his WBO 160lb title due to his inactivity since winning their belt in 2015, according to Fight News. However, one of Saunders’ mandatory defenses might wind up being Saul Canelo Alvarez if the WBO catapults him above the current #1 Avtandil Khurtsidze.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/10/wbo ... back-back/

Happy to see this from the WBO, hopefully in future they put their foot down more and enforce mandatory fights.

[lefty]

Hopefully it happens. Would be good to see Canelo against Saunders in may and then if he comes through that- fight Golovkin in September. He'll then atleast be properly acclimatised at the weight against a legit middleweight before going in against the No1 at the weight.

[rossij8]

Good stuff from WBO

Always considered them as the weakest body - though WBA is probably on a par now

[Stuarty]

Good stuff from WBO

Always considered them as the weakest body - though WBA is probably on a par now

It think the WBA are in a league of their own mate

[the_doctor]

Good stuff from WBO

Always considered them as the weakest body - though WBA is probably on a par now

It think the WBA are in a league of their own mate

Definitely. At one point they had an "interim" Champion despite already having a "regular" and a "Super" Champion

[Stuarty]

Good stuff from WBO

Always considered them as the weakest body - though WBA is probably on a par now

It think the WBA are in a league of their own mate

Definitely. At one point they had an "interim" Champion despite already having a "regular" and a "Super" Champion

Didn't they have a couple of interim champions in the same weight class at one point? I vaguely remember there being about 4 or 5 WBA champions at the same weight at one point! They're a total joke! The folk that run them need investigated!

[wesshaw1985]

Warren and Oscar have just worked together for Canelo vs. Smith, seems the next logical fight for both men.
Saunders could use a Canelo scalp to boost his name stateside leading into the GGG fight.
Canelo could use the WBO MW Title to build his fight with GGG.
Get the fight made...

[Andrew]

Warren and Oscar have just worked together for Canelo vs. Smith, seems the next logical fight for both men.
Saunders could use a Canelo scalp to boost his name stateside leading into the GGG fight.
Canelo could use the WBO MW Title to build his fight with GGG.
Get the fight made...

He had the chance to build his name stateside but turned down three opponents.

I was a fan but he has been a joke since he won that belt.

[Crease]

Agreed, think the WBO are doing the right thing.
Saunders has been a lazy (& VERY mouthy) git since winning that title.

He's been doing a lot of talking:
"we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that" -
when he actually hasn't done anything in well over a year.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Agreed, think the WBO are doing the right thing.
Saunders has been a lazy (& VERY mouthy) git since winning that title.

He's been doing a lot of talking:
"we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that" -
when he actually hasn't done anything in well over a year.

The only thing I can see him doing is giving the belt back

[PredatorHayds]

He should never of turned the Lemieux fight down.

Was good money, style to suit his and would of boosted his profile stateside.

[Andrew]

He should never of turned the Lemieux fight down.

Was good money, style to suit his and would of boosted his profile stateside.

Don't think he has ever been offered Lemeiux.

He was offered GGG for last April. He was also offered Rosado, Willie Munroe and Curtis Stevens for the Canelo v Liam Smith card.

[lefthook82]

Rosado and Stevens perfect for his style

Dude is an idiot

[Boxing Prospect]

Was also offered Murata

[Tarkus]

So BJS is planning to sit on his fat ass till May? Because thats when Canelo is fighting. Ridiculous, Khurtsidze must be given a mandatory shot. Lazy bum will probably vacates if he is forced to fight.

[Crease]

Wasn't he Saunders trying to line up a defense with some obscure Light Middle? Think his surname begins with "M"?

[CMDY]

Not sure if I am missing something but no way can I see BJS having a prayer against Canelo, Alvarez is firstly a much better boxer and secondly BJS can't expect any favours from judges.
Real Shame BJS hasn't done anything since beating Lee.

[PredatorHayds]

He should never of turned the Lemieux fight down.

Was good money, style to suit his and would of boosted his profile stateside.

Don't think he has ever been offered Lemeiux.

He was offered GGG for last April. He was also offered Rosado, Willie Munroe and Curtis Stevens for the Canelo v Liam Smith card.

They wanted it for Canelo undercard chief support.

[nitro5912]

Saunders will vacate before facing canelo or keep pricing himself out the fight until purse bids, then get injured.

He has no intention on fighting the leading lights at middleweight, otherwise he would have gone and fought on the canelo smith undercard v rosado, Monroe jnr.

He has one big mkneyy fight and that's the rematch with eubank jnr.

[Terminator666]

It will have to be back back to over about a three year period- hope they realise that

[Manchester Hitman]

Saunders can't even be trusted to turn up against easy voluntaries like Bursak and Akavov but people really think he will face Canelo and GGG

Even if he would face Canelo, I would be astonished if GOlden Boy would risk a financial disaster by agreeing a fight with Saunders only for him to pull out against Canelo on his lucractive dates in May or September..

As somebody else mentioned, they will hold out and keep trying for A Eubank fight on British soil 100%