Billy Joe Saunders vs. Caleb Truax (April 2018)?

[Enlightened-One]

The prospect of this fight is being heavily discussed right now.

Thoughts?

[Ruthless-RKO]

What weight? Who's title?

Catchweight? Non-title?

[Enlightened-One]

What weight? Who's title?

Catchweight? Non-title?

Frànk Wàrrèn originally wanted to pit Saunders against DeGale in a catch weight bout, but Truax spoiled that plan.

Billy Joe wants to retain ownership of his WBO title, but said that he'd only face Truax if he could keep it.

So I reckon it'll be a catch weight 164lbs. I'm not sure the IBF would sanction a challenger for their title if they hold the WBO belt at a lower weight, but who knows?

If Golovkin-Canelo somehow set-up a third bout, perhaps Saunders will try to attempt to lure Eubank Jr. to participate in a rematch title unification bout, assuming Chris successfully overcomes Groves.

[dickbelden]

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/boxin ... lo-Alvarez

[gilgamesh]

It'd be a decent fight I suppose. I think I'd rather just see them each find an opponent in their own weight class.

[candyslim]

It'd be a decent fight I suppose. I think I'd rather just see them each find an opponent in their own weight class.

Yes that was my initial reaction but Saunders' main targets are fighting each other, Jacobs could be problematic in that you have Warren and Hearn making like stags in the rutting season, plus it would have to be in London and Jacobs probably would want a bigger split than the standard voluntary defence challenger's share.

Charlo? Would Billy Joe want to risk it when he has the SCA/GGG winner his sights. Same goes for Jacobs. He wants a good opponent but not so good as to threaten his unification fight.

A catchweight fight against Truax makes a lot of sense.

[gilgamesh]

It'd be a decent fight I suppose. I think I'd rather just see them each find an opponent in their own weight class.

Yes that was my initial reaction but Saunders' main targets are fighting each other, Jacobs could be problematic in that you have Warren and Hearn making like stags in the rutting season, plus it would have to be in London and Jacobs probably would want a bigger split than the standard voluntary defence challenger's share.

Charlo? Would Billy Joe want to risk it when he has the SCA/GGG winner his sights. Same goes for Jacobs. He wants a good opponent but not so good as to threaten his unification fight.

A catchweight fight against Truax makes a lot of sense.

I'd honestly think he might want to pick up the title from Truax. Provided they'd let him fight for it at least.

[candyslim]

Maybe. He wouldn't be moving up as such, so he wouldn't need to relinquish his WBO Middleweight title. I'd not thought of that.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Truax wants a DeGale rematch

[candyslim]

Does DeGale want the rematch though? Contractually he can insist but I heard it said he was considering his options. I'll be surprised if he decides to bow out on a loss, but only he can know and it sounds like even he doesn't yet.

[Enlightened-One]

Does DeGale want the rematch though? Contractually he can insist but I heard it said he was considering his options. I'll be surprised if he decides to bow out on a loss, but only he can know and it sounds like even he doesn't yet.

There's no immediate rematch clause in the DeGale-Truax contract.

Truax will inevitably face the highest bidder or whomever the IBF mandates.

James DeGale stated that he hasn't ruled out retirement yet, but if he does decide to resume his career, as a free agent, he'll need to find a promoter and TV network to fund a rematch between himself and Truax, outbidding other fighters that would seek an opportunity to face the vulnerable new champion.

[boxing_rocks]

The same Saunders who humiliated Lemieux beats Truax easy.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Does DeGale want the rematch though? Contractually he can insist but I heard it said he was considering his options. I'll be surprised if he decides to bow out on a loss, but only he can know and it sounds like even he doesn't yet.

There's no immediate rematch clause in the DeGale-Truax contract.

Truax will inevitably face the highest bidder or whomever the IBF mandates.

James DeGale stated that he hasn't ruled out retirement yet, but if he does decide to resume his career, as a free agent, he'll need to find a promoter and TV network to fund a rematch between himself and Truax, outbidding other fighters that would seek an opportunity to face the vulnerable new champion.

I'd not be surprised if he does quit to be honest.

[Ruthless-RKO]

DeGale vs. Eubank/Groves are still big enough domestic fights. But I do think DeGale needs a decent but dominant win before those fights happen.

[KiwiRider]

I was sorta hoping BJS would have a go at Jacobs who is free at the moment. The Hearn/Wawwan thing is a hurdle as previously stated.
Catch weight fights interfere with the already confusing rankings. I'd rather not.

[candyslim]

Does DeGale want the rematch though? Contractually he can insist but I heard it said he was considering his options. I'll be surprised if he decides to bow out on a loss, but only he can know and it sounds like even he doesn't yet.

There's no immediate rematch clause in the DeGale-Truax contract.

Truax will inevitably face the highest bidder or whomever the IBF mandates.

James DeGale stated that he hasn't ruled out retirement yet, but if he does decide to resume his career, as a free agent, he'll need to find a promoter and TV network to fund a rematch between himself and Truax, outbidding other fighters that would seek an opportunity to face the vulnerable new champion.

I heard there was a rematch clause. Maybe I was misinformed.

[Enlightened-One]

Does DeGale want the rematch though? Contractually he can insist but I heard it said he was considering his options. I'll be surprised if he decides to bow out on a loss, but only he can know and it sounds like even he doesn't yet.

There's no immediate rematch clause in the DeGale-Truax contract.

Truax will inevitably face the highest bidder or whomever the IBF mandates.

James DeGale stated that he hasn't ruled out retirement yet, but if he does decide to resume his career, as a free agent, he'll need to find a promoter and TV network to fund a rematch between himself and Truax, outbidding other fighters that would seek an opportunity to face the vulnerable new champion.

I heard there was a rematch clause. Maybe I was misinformed.

To be honest with you, this point is still unclear, since different sources state polar opposite claims about the existence of the rematch clause.

You might be right and I could be wrong about this... or vice versa. I guess we've both done our due diligence and formulated differing opinions based on the information we've acquired.

In a way though, it might not really matter, because both men are controlled by Al Haymon, which means it may even be a moot point, because if the PBC boss "wants" the rematch to happen, then it will... alternately he may prefer one of his other fighters to challenge Truax instead.

That being said, what is abundantly clear though, is that DeGale is going to consider retirement during the current festive period, so he may not even fight again, though I personally feel he'll inevitably decide continue his career.