Billy Joe Saunders has accepted a 6-figure sum to relinquish his WBO World title shot to allow Andy Lee to face Peter Quillin in April.
In doing so the Hatfield middleweight secured a slot on the on the undercard of what promises to be a huge New York show against a yet to be named opponent.
This is the second time Saunders 21-0 (11KO’s) has stepped aside, having allowed Matt Korobov 24-1 (14KO’s) to face Andy Lee 34-2 (24KO’s) in December. Instead facing Chris Eubank Jnr 18-1 (13KO’s) in a lucrative rematch that he won on a split decision.
On the face of things this sounds like good business from Saunders and his promoter Frank Warren, but will it be a decision the fighter will live to regret?
Saunders, who confirmed the move via Twitter, doesn’t think so: “Just to let you all know I’m in a better position in my boxing get winner and a 6figure number to let the fight happen ”
The thought process is clear promotionally – a fight between current WBO champion Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders would be huge in the UK. A fight that would be best placed as a summer showdown in a football stadium as confirmed recently by Frank Warren and his fighter.
Timing is of course everything and April would just not work weather wise for this contest. But a key detail has been missed here and one that Saunders might live to regret in his hunt to capture the WBO middleweight title.
That detail is the unbeaten former WBO middleweight champion Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin 31-0 (22KO’s).
What happens if Quillin reclaims his title from Lee? Personally, I can’t see Al Haymon allowing his fighter to cross the Atlantic to fight Saunders can you?
This would leave Saunders with a difficult decision to make. Does he face Quillin in New York? Or, does he rematch with Chris Eubank Jnr, who could hold the interim WBA middleweight title, which he faces Dmitry Chudinov for in February?
The former Olympian, in his decision to give up his mandatory position, has backed himself to beat all of the above in any scenario.
If the planets align and Andy Lee retains his title in April his decision will be vindicated and a masterstroke will have been pulled. But, should the fight go the other way Saunders might have just sold the best opportunity he will ever have to win a World title, only time will tell.
Let’s be honest, in a business as tough boxing you can’t blame him.
