According to Frank Warren, promoter of WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, his boxer is likely making a world title defense on a date in September.

He was expected to return next month, in a mandatory defense against Avtandil Khurtsidze, who recently captured the WBO interim-belt with a knockout of undefeated Tommy Langford.

But the fight was canceled last week, after Khurtsidze was unexpectedly arrested in New York City - with local officials claiming the boxer was part of a criminal conspiracy. He is being held without bell, after being indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

For reasons beyond his control - like injuries and postponements - Saunders has only made a single defense since winning the WBO title from Andy Lee in December of 2015.

Warren wants to book Saunders' next fight on the same week as Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) vs. Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) - who battle for the WBA, WBC, IBO, IBF middleweight titles on September 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The goal, says Warren, is to have Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) win his next fight and then match him against the Golovkin-Canelo winner.

"We're upset with what has happened but Billy will fight now in September," Warren told Nick Parkinson. "He has got to have a fight that week of the Golovkin-Canelo fight, but not on the same bill. Billy has to fight his mandatory which is Khurtsidze, but I can't see how it's going to be him."

"That's what Billy wants to do, to face the winner of that [Canelo-Golovkin] fight. If the winner of that fight wants all four belts, he will have to fight Billy. Billy has just been unlucky with injuries and now this. It will happen for him he just has to keep the WBO belt."

Daniel Jacobs (32-2, 29 KOs) has been openly calling for a showdown with Saunders - but Warren has ruled him out.

"It's highly unlikely it will be Jacobs," Warren said.

Some of the other fighters being considered include - David Lemieux (38-3, 33 KOs), Ryota Murata (12-1, 9 KOs) and Rob Brant (22-0, 15 KOs).