With a potential match-up a possibility later this year, Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) and David Lemieux (38-3, 33 KOs) have wasted no time in trading verbals.
Saunders was due to defend his WBO World Middleweight Title on July 8th against Avtandil Khurtsidze, but that bout has been called off for legal reasons after the Russian fighter was arrested in New York City in connection to a RICO case.
So instead of that proposed July date, the unbeaten southpaw looks to be back in action on September 16th in London, the same night as Canelo Alvarez squares off with IBO, IBF, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The HBO Pay-Per-View has been picked up by BoxNation in the UK.
Since Saunders is without an opponent, heavy-handed Canadian David Lemieux is one option. The winner would then be in line to face Canelo or Golovkin in huge unification.
On Tuesday morning, Saunders took to Twitter to taunt Lemieux: "C*** boy are you next in line so let's go".
Lemieux, who lost his IBF World Title to 'Triple G' in October 2015, did not hold back in his response.
"I can't wait to make you bleed and take that belt away from you. I'm going to destroy you. See you soon pussy."
A clash between Saunders and Lemieux would certainly capture fans' imagination, pitting a skillful technician against a big-punching knockout artist.
Lemieux has picked up two good wins this year, with a vicious knockout of Curtis Stevens in March and then a decision win over Marcos Reyes in May.
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