Matching Saunders

[fizzjambo]

Looks like Canelo and GGG up in May and obviously all the other fringe top guys like Saunders, Charlo, Andrade and Murata (although to be fair he’s a huge sell in Japan) see those two guys as being the huge pay days every top fighter is looking for.

Obviously Saunders is looking to secure a fight with one of those two in Sept/Dec but who is the right opponent for him up next? Ingle was on Bunces show last night and targeted late April as being the next time Billy is out.

It’s a difficult one as obviously Saunders team won’t want to risk losing the chance of a mega fight they’ve only just built real interest in off the back of the Lemieux win by getting turned over for small change. That said Saunders isn’t a consistent type of guy and you get the impression he needs the fire of a genuine challenge under his ass to get the best out of him.

For me it’s either Andrade or Murray. Andrade is a superb fighter but he doesn’t sell a ticket and has only just moved up. It would be an excellent technical fight and the winner would really look like the stand out guy outside of the top two. Murray is highly ranked, would make a good quality domestic fight but is probably tailor made for Saunders. Could see Warren and Hearn agreeing to it as it’s possibly the best option for both guys just now - unless Hearn sees Murray as being next up for Jacobs.

Sulecki and Centeno jnr wouldn’t be terrible but I think anything much else would be a disappointment or an unneeded risk, unless Murata’s people make a big offer of a fight over there

[Boxerbeetle]

Oh God, not Murray again. How many shots should he get?

[ThereByTheGrace]

Oh God, not Murray again. How many shots should he get?

Its a pointless fight. Not many options if the top 2 who are well above the rest keep fighting each other!

[fizzjambo]

I’m not saying Murray is a great fight, it’s not but it’s better than some make out.

Murray only lost to two elite fighters at middleweight and he’d be one of Saunders better wins. It would sell reasonably in the UK, be against a top ten ranked guy and is realistically a good level given the position Saunders has just got himself in - ie a good chance of a huge fight by the years end.

I’d prefer Andrade but Murray is a more sensible option - better money, less risk and still a good fight.

Who’d you rather see Saunders fight?

[Boxerbeetle]

I’m not saying Murray is a great fight, it’s not but it’s better than some make out.

Murray only lost to two elite fighters at middleweight and he’d be one of Saunders better wins. It would sell reasonably in the UK, be against a top ten ranked guy and is realistically a good level given the position Saunders has just got himself in - ie a good chance of a huge fight by the years end.

I’d prefer Andrade but Murray is a more sensible option - better money, less risk and still a good fight.

Who’d you rather see Saunders fight?

Definitely either Andrade or Charlo, but that’s not going to happen unfortunately.

Looking at the rankings, I suppose Murray isn’t a terrible option, but he’s not exactly an inspiring opponent and has lost every time he’s stepped up a level.

[jamamb]

god please not murray. as boring a choice as you can get.

too bad jason quigley wasnt a bit more seasoned. maybe in a few years he can be an interesting challenger. there would be some interesting challengers among guys like andrade, dervchankyo, charlo, murata, etc, although if we exclude all them on the basis there waiting for ggg-canelo then it gets much harder. but still, i find murray absolutely boring as hell of an opponent. i would not bother to watch the inevitable bjs decision with murray doing just enough to get yet another chance.

[jamamb]

i have a feeling a guy like gabe rosado will be next tbh. somewhat of a name to those who follow boxing, probably easy to make and not very risky and more passable as bjs having earned an easy fight after the lemieux schooling. rosado is a bit like an american murray. probably slightly lower level.

[kojebee]

Murray got the win over Rosado. Murray fight would sell better. GGG took 11 rounds to beat Murray. If BJS can school Murray convincingly, even more interest in a GGG v BJS fight. A slower 36 year old GGG come fight time, unless we see a Canelo v GGG trilogy.

[fizzjambo]

i have a feeling a guy like gabe rosado will be next tbh. somewhat of a name to those who follow boxing, probably easy to make and not very risky and more passable as bjs having earned an easy fight after the lemieux schooling. rosado is a bit like an american murray. probably slightly lower level.

Like you say though Rosado is of a lower level than Murray so if we’re complaining about Murray who in their right mind would be happy with Rosado?

Realistically Charlo, Andrade and Dervchankyo are significant risks for low purses - they don’t sell in the US far in less over here. I’d rather any of them than Murray but it would be a daft risk given that Saunders has only just thrown himself into the prime spot for one of GGG or Canelo - who bring serious money.

Murata over in Japan would likely be a good payday and an even fight, if it’s not him though it’s gonna be reasonably low risk and who would you prefer than Murray? Arnfield?
Langford? Rose?

Love or Quillan would be ok I suppose but neither are top 15 with the WBO

[Ads_]

He doesn’t warrant a title shot by any means but I’d like to see him in with Jamie Cox.

Cox is not a super middleweight and it’s a great domestic clash which would draw a lot of interest.

If the money is right for Cox, Hearn might allow him to fight under Warren’s promotion.

[bigjack]

Anyone but Murray please,it would be the same old story of him with his high held guard backing off and having small amounts of success here and there but losing clearly.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I can see him voluntarily fighting Tommy Langdord.

[fizzjambo]

He doesn’t warrant a title shot by any means but I’d like to see him in with Jamie Cox.

Cox is not a super middleweight and it’s a great domestic clash which would draw a lot of interest.

If the money is right for Cox, Hearn might allow him to fight under Warren’s promotion.

Can someone please point out what Cox has ever done to merit even a European shot? That would be a dreadful fight

[fizzjambo]

I can see him voluntarily fighting Tommy Langdord.

Ingle seems to be well aware that fighting someone who poses zero threat is not the best way to keep Saunders motivated and dedicated. Langford offers zero threat

[Ads_]

He doesn’t warrant a title shot by any means but I’d like to see him in with Jamie Cox.

Cox is not a super middleweight and it’s a great domestic clash which would draw a lot of interest.

If the money is right for Cox, Hearn might allow him to fight under Warren’s promotion.

Can someone please point out what Cox has ever done to merit even a European shot? That would be a dreadful fight

I’m not saying he does but it’s a fight that would generate a lot of interest domestically since Cox is now better known after his appearance in the WBSS. It would be a better pay day for BJS compared to the other possible fights mentioned.

It would also be a great fight. Two southpaws, one aggressive who will come forward and BJS slick counter punching style.

[PredatorHayds]

When his stock is this high and a super fight is on the horizon for later on in the year don’t expect him to have a tough one.

He will fight the Langford-Arnfield winner with the spin being it’s his homecoming affair after the Lemeiux win.

[jamamb]

i have a feeling a guy like gabe rosado will be next tbh. somewhat of a name to those who follow boxing, probably easy to make and not very risky and more passable as bjs having earned an easy fight after the lemieux schooling. rosado is a bit like an american murray. probably slightly lower level.

Like you say though Rosado is of a lower level than Murray so if we’re complaining about Murray who in their right mind would be happy with Rosado?

Realistically Charlo, Andrade and Dervchankyo are significant risks for low purses - they don’t sell in the US far in less over here. I’d rather any of them than Murray but it would be a daft risk given that Saunders has only just thrown himself into the prime spot for one of GGG or Canelo - who bring serious money.

Murata over in Japan would likely be a good payday and an even fight, if it’s not him though it’s gonna be reasonably low risk and who would you prefer than Murray? Arnfield?
Langford? Rose?

Love or Quillan would be ok I suppose but neither are top 15 with the WBO

i dont really feel many ppl will be happy with rosado. i just figure hes a reliable loser murray type but probably easier to make a fight with.

yes i would honestly prefer guys like arnfeld to murray. murray is just the peak of boredom and predictability at that level. weve already seen him there a bunch before. id rather a different guy get a shot just for a bit of something new.

[jamamb]

and im as much of a cox critic as anyone else, but if he somehow got a shot id be far more interested in that than murray. id even rather paul smith got another title shot. at least with him theres always funny jibes going about. murray is meh on every level.

no offense meant, hes a solid fighter, well schooled, but so meh. recycled too many times for me now.

[3132DW]

Looks like Canelo and GGG up in May and obviously all the other fringe top guys like Saunders, Charlo, Andrade and Murata (although to be fair he’s a huge sell in Japan) see those two guys as being the huge pay days every top fighter is looking for.

Obviously Saunders is looking to secure a fight with one of those two in Sept/Dec but who is the right opponent for him up next? Ingle was on Bunces show last night and targeted late April as being the next time Billy is out.

It’s a difficult one as obviously Saunders team won’t want to risk losing the chance of a mega fight they’ve only just built real interest in off the back of the Lemieux win by getting turned over for small change. That said Saunders isn’t a consistent type of guy and you get the impression he needs the fire of a genuine challenge under his ass to get the best out of him.

For me it’s either Andrade or Murray. Andrade is a superb fighter but he doesn’t sell a ticket and has only just moved up. It would be an excellent technical fight and the winner would really look like the stand out guy outside of the top two. Murray is highly ranked, would make a good quality domestic fight but is probably tailor made for Saunders. Could see Warren and Hearn agreeing to it as it’s possibly the best option for both guys just now - unless Hearn sees Murray as being next up for Jacobs.

Sulecki and Centeno jnr wouldn’t be terrible but I think anything much else would be a disappointment or an unneeded risk, unless Murata’s people make a big offer of a fight over there

Half expect Jacobs to fight Spike O’Sullivan next.

[Verdi]

Maybe Truax

[horndawg80]

I’d like to see Jamie Cox vs Saunders.

Or Truax at 168 although doubt that’ll happen.

Who is Allegedly liaise with the most? Management wise? Murata? Tommy L could get a shot

[Fortynineandout]

Saunders will be kept busy to maintain the momentum from his impressive performance last time out.

I would guess at Martin Murray followed by the winner of Langford / Arnfield as tick overs in the hope that the really big fight can be made at the back end of this year .

[stujones]

Needs to keep his profile up abroad. He just beat a decent name abroad with the Michael Buffer treatment, no more low key British fights on 6 hour BT sports bills..... needs only high profile fights now - I geniunally believe he is close to getting in the GGG / Alvarez mix... who else is there left for them? Jacobs, Charllo, Andrade, Derevyanchenko - there are not many other options for GGG / Alvarez post May.

Charllo, Andrade would be great.... Spike O Sullivan seems to have gathered a bit of interest since his win - so if they want to look at an easier "name".

[Black Sam Bellamy]

No chance Cox for a voluntary, he’s with Matchroom.

[fizzjambo]

Needs to keep his profile up abroad. He just beat a decent name abroad with the Michael Buffer treatment, no more low key British fights on 6 hour BT sports bills..... needs only high profile fights now - I geniunally believe he is close to getting in the GGG / Alvarez mix... who else is there left for them? Jacobs, Charllo, Andrade, Derevyanchenko - there are not many other options for GGG / Alvarez post May.

Charllo, Andrade would be great.... Spike O Sullivan seems to have gathered a bit of interest since his win - so if they want to look at an easier "name".

Agree with all of the above, however Saunders stood Spike on his head a few years back and the gap will only be wider now - not the right option for me.

He’s got three options for me, take Murata in Japan, which is winnable but def risky but would command a very good pay day, really build the pressure on getting the winner of Canelo or GGG and fight an Andrade or Charlo in the States which would be high risk but a win would see him considerably improve his bargaining position with the winner of that, or take a low risk defence and just hold fire until he gets one of the big boys, but isn’t improving his own standing. Personally I’d try and get Andrade over here as I think Billy, at his best, beats him, but it’s a risk and probably the sensible option is to tread water vs Murray. Cox doesn’t deserve a Bristow title shot for me, far in less more!