Billy Joe Saunders vs Canelo was set to be announced on Monday for May 5 before coronavirus halted all boxing
BILLY JOE SAUNDERS has a mega-money deal done to fight Canelo Alvarez once the coronavirus is KO’d.
The Hatfield ace is so close to landing a life-changing payday after a handful of previous deals to face the Mexican and fellow money maker Gennadiy Golovkin fell through.
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Canelo and the Brit southpaw were supposed to settle their grudge at super-middleweight on May 5 in Las Vegas, to celebrate the Mexican Cinco de Mayo holiday, before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
And the four-weight king has now been linked with an overdue trilogy fight with GGG that has got Saunders fans worried he has missed the boat again.
But Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed the 30-year-old remains front of the queue for the windfall fight.
Assessing the corona fall-out, Hearn said: “It leaves Billy Joe at the minute with a deal in place to fight Canelo.
"Everything now depends on when the sport begins, because that fight was supposed to take place on Cinco de Mayo. Now we know that's definitely not happening.
"Will boxing return in June, July? If it does, there's every chance that Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez in that period and the date of the Golovkin fight will be put back."
Hearn now has to hope worldwide boxing returns in the summer and Saunders, who has always struggled with self discipline, stays on track under the eagle eye of trainer Ben Davison, in Sin City.
He said: "Right now, Billy Joe Saunders is actually in Vegas, training.
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“We were supposed to have a press conference on Monday to announce the Canelo Alvarez fight.
"It's the moment where you've got to stay focused, you've got to stay disciplined.
"I believe Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez, as long as the boxing schedule returns in the summer."