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THAT'S QUIET ALRIGHT

Billy Joe Saunders wants Canelo Alvarez fight without fans as Brit is used to only ‘filling half of Stevenage’s ground’

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS says he would fight Canelo Alvarez "in an empty arena" as that is "his world".

The WBO super-middleweight champ was close to agreeing a deal to fight the Mexican before the coronavirus pandemic shut down boxing.

 Billy Joe Saunders is a two-weight world champ and is desperate to fight Canelo Alvarez
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Billy Joe Saunders is a two-weight world champ and is desperate to fight Canelo AlvarezCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Canelo Alvarez is a multi-weight world champ and had reportedly agreed to fight Billy Joe Saunders
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Canelo Alvarez is a multi-weight world champ and had reportedly agreed to fight Billy Joe Saunders

That has left Saunders once again frustrated to land the biggest fight out there.

But it is a dream he is refusing to give up on as he spoke with his promoter Eddie Hearn and former cruiserweight world champ Tony Bellew on .

And he joked that he would have the advantage if it was behind-closed doors.

"If we fight in an empty arena, he's in my world now.

"He's in my world. He packs stadiums out, I fill half of Stevenage football ground."

I believe I have the tools to beat him

Billy Joe Saunders on Canelo

Saunders was referring to his May 2019 points win against Shefat Isufi at the Hertfordshire venue that won him his current world belt.

But the 30-year-old was adamant he has what it takes to cause a big shock and beat Canelo.

He added: "I believe I have the tools to beat him.

"He is an exceptionally great fighter one of the best, but to be the best you have to beat these types of people.

"He is the cash cow, the big man, everybody in boxing knows him. He is the man I would love to beat."

CALLS OUT AMMO

Another potential opponent for the Beijing 2008 Olympian could be American middleweight prospect Austin Williams.

And there is already fuel in that fire, with Saunders labelling him a “bully’ after "Ammo" posted brutal sparring footage showing him tormenting an opponent in training.

Saunders tweeted: “You big useless Fraggle.

“That poor man clearly can’t hold his hands up proper.

“When I’m in US I’ll move you around, we see what happens then.”


Two-division champion Saunders also faces a battle to get licensed, having been suspended by the British Board of Boxing control following a controversial video appearing to show men how to hit their partners in lockdown.

His British boxing license was taken away, though a hearing has yet to take place due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

But the 30-year-old could still apply for a license to box in America, clearing him to fight Canelo.

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