BRITISH super-middleweight champions Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith have just 24 HOURS to agree terms to fight Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
The pair – both promoted by Eddie Hearn – were sent offers to fight Mexican superstar Canelo in May by Golden Boy Promotions chief Oscar De La Hoya.
Billy Joe Saunders turned down an offer to face Canelo Alvarez
Callum Smith also demands a better deal to fight Canelo
But the contracts were deemed unacceptable and turned down, with the two bargaining for a better deal to take on boxing’s biggest star.
Promoter De La Hoya has warned WBA champion Smith, 29, and WBO king Saunders, 30, they have until Monday to accept the fight with Alvarez.
He said: “Nobody wants to fight Canelo. They’re all afraid of him.
“I’ve offered BJ Saunders the fight, and he’s balking at it. And I’ve offered Callum Smith the fight, and he’s balking at it.
“I’ve got 4 other guys that I’m negotiating with, and can talk to.
“If you guys don’t take it, then we’re moving on to somebody else, but he will fight in May.
“Time is running out. I have until Sunday or Monday at the latest or else I’m moving on.”
Canelo won a belt in his fourth division in November when he knocked out Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light-heavyweight crown.
But the 29-year-old vacated the 175lb strap to move back down in weight, and with super-middleweight the favoured division, it left Saunders and Smith frontrunners to face Alvarez.
However, Canelo also holds unified titles at middleweight, and was in talks to face Japan’s WBA ‘Regular’ champion Ryota Murata, but negotiations collapsed with the Mexican unwilling to fight in Tokyo.
Sports streaming service DAZN – who signed Alvarez to a 11-fight £300million deal in 2018 – have approved a world title fight between either Saunders and Smith.
And promoter Hearn admitted whichever one of his 168lb champions accepts the super-fight for less money will be the man in the opposite corner against Canelo in the summer.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya confirmed Canelo will fight again in May
Eddie Hearn says that both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua want to fight each other to see who the best fighter is
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
