BRITISH super-middleweights Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith have both rejected “unacceptable” offers to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Mexican superstar Canelo is plotting a May return to the ring having won the WBO light-heavyweight title against Sergey Kovalev in November – since vacating the belt.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez wants to return to the ring in MayCredit: AP:Associated Press
English duo Saunders and Smith – both promoted by Eddie Hearn – have received offers from Golden Boy Promotions chief Oscar De La Hoya.
But according to The Athletic, both world champions deemed it a lowball offer.
Hearn confirmed to ESPN that WBA champion Smith, 29, rejected the deal, and awaits an improved contract.
He said: “We turned down the initial offer but, of course, it’s the fight that Callum wants next.
“If we feel the offer is right, he will jump at the chance.”
But De La Hoya blasted the unbeaten Liverpudlian, as he said: “He’s an idiot. Callum Smith is a good fighter and has an amazing shot of beating Canelo and he turns it down?
“Callum Smith turned down the fight and he would have made three to four times the money he has ever made and he turned it down.
“I wish him all the best and hopefully he can make the same money somewhere else.
“But Callum Smith, the most dangerous fighter out there at super middleweight, is out there and he’s bragging how he wants to fight the best and he turns it down?
“What’s wrong with these fighters? What’s happening with the legacies? It’s all business now.”
Canelo was also linked with fighting Japan’s WBA ‘Regular’ middleweight champion Ryota Murata, but talks collapsed with the Mexican unwilling to fight in Tokyo.
De La Hoya revealed WBO super-middleweight champ Saunders, 30, is still in the mix to face Alvarez.
He explained: “I commend Billy Joe Saunders because he went on record saying he wants the fight and would fight Canelo for free, but there are several guys out there.
“I don’t want to mention any names from my mouth, but we will work with anybody. We will just keep going down the list.
“But it’s an idiotic mistake on their part to turn down a chance to fight Canelo, the biggest star in boxing, and to make the most money.”
WBA champ Callum Smith was blasted for rejecting the chance to face CaneloCredit: Reuters
WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders is still in the mix to fight CaneloCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
