Tom Saunders says Canelo Alvarez v Billy Joe Saunders fight is off due to ring size dispute!
There would not be fight week without a little bit of drama! While I may be underselling this as a “little” bit of drama, it may quickly turn into a whole fiasco if team Billy Joe Saunders does not get their way. According to the father of WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy “Superb” Joe Saunders (30-0, 14KOs), there will be no fight if his son is forced to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (55-1-2, 37KOs) in a eighteen or twenty foot ring.
RELATED: Billy Joe Saunders Ready To “Take Over The Motherfucking Show!”
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Tom Saunders told iFL TV the following regarding the ring size dispute.
“I can’t see them coming face to face, cause the issue with the ring still hasn’t been sorted. You know it’s nothing in the contract about the ring size, it’s all negotiations and negotiations have broke down, big time. Basically Canelo has put a eighteen foot ring, which I think is an amateur ring. That’s the fight ring. So his plan was to put an eighteen foot ring there. Alvarez Canelo knew that we were going to stop, and he said a twenty foot ring that’s it.
That was his game plan, fighting in a twenty foot ring. We wanted a twenty-four foot ring, we’ve come down to a twenty-two foot in the ring. Basically what they’re trying to do is take Billy Joe’s legs away. You know we’re up against everything here, everything, and at the end of the day I’m not going to let my son box in a twenty foot ring for what’s supposed to be pound for pound king of boxing.
We’re up against everything here and we’ve spoke to him this morning. They’ve said it’s either twenty foot or book your flights home. So, unfortunately people we apologize to all the fans British, American and around the world. I can’t let my son box in a twenty foot ring against Alvarez Canelo, on Cinco De Mayo weekend. We’ve given into a lot of stuff here, but this we just can not give into. They’re trying to take his legs away, the fight will not be fair. The fights off!”
C’MON BILLY JOE!
I understand the frustration from Tom Saunders and the camp. This is a huge fight that could forever change the trajectory of the WBO champion’s career. Him being a slick boxer, a bigger ring would be supremely ideal. However, he must know, being the B side, some things you will not be accommodated on. Alvarez, who is the biggest star in boxing, knows by selecting a smaller ring, it would not only benefit him, but also be in the mind of Saunders.
At the end of the day, you negotiate the things you want in the contract. If this stipulation was not included, do not quit and cry about it now. If Billy Joe Saunders squanders away this opportunity yet again, he may as well hang up the gloves and never show his face in public again. A chance to become a unified champion and make your career-high payday is what you fight for. For him to potentially throw that away because the ring size is not to his liking is some straight up shameful and disgraceful you-know-what.
3kingsboxing.com will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
Be the first to comment