As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, WBO world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders confirmed he wants to face IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC champion Gennady Golovkin in a high stakes unification in June.
This past Saturday night, Golovkin had all he could handle in winning a close unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The official judges scored the contest 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113.
Golovkin is roaring to fight Saunders next. And he would like to do it in Kazakhstan.
“One hundred percent I would like to face Saunders next, in my country,” Golovkin said.
In his 37-0 career, the Kazakh KO King has fought just once in front of his home fans back in 2010 with an early stoppage win over Nilson Julio Tapia.
As previously noted, Saunders believes Golovkin is flawed.
“I’ll travel anywhere to fight him, I’m not bothered about fighting him in Kazakhstan, I’ll fight him in a field for all I care," Saunders said.
“I’ve seen faults and flaws in him that I know I can take advantage of. I want to see how good I really am. In my own head, I know I am capable of beating him. I am in my prime and ready to take on the best. I want to give the fans what they want to see. He wants the WBO belt and I have it. I am willing to put it on the line.”
A potential June date, which coincides with the Expo trade festival in Astana, Kazakhstan has been discussed for GGG’s next fight and fans will be intrigued to see developments over the coming weeks.
Regarding the issues that Golovkin had with Jacobs, Saunders believes he's a better boxer than the Brooklyn native and expects to work Golovkin over.
"Golovkin is strong but a boxer always beats a puncher and he’s never faced anyone as tricky as me. Jacobs gave him a real fight on Saturday but he isn’t in my class when I’m on form,” Saunders.