By Steve Kim

Recently Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs), the current WBO middleweight belt-holder, was given an exception to bypass his mandatory challenger, Avantil Khurtsidze, who took a step-aside fee. According to Saunders, he is now free to pursue a much bigger fight.

Could that be a showdown with unified champion Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33 KOs), who faces Danny Jacobs on March 18th at the Madison Square Garden in New York?

"Just like with Golden Boy (Promotions), I've been in contact with Frank Warren," said Tom Loeffler with a smile while speaking to BoxingScene.com in Big Bear, California, at the Summit Gym where Golovkin trains on a daily basis.

Warren is the promoter for Saunders, who won his belt in December of 2015 by out-pointing Andy Lee, but has only defended that crown just once since that point.

"It's no secret that it's a main priority for Gennady to unify the middleweight division, "continued Loeffler, of his client who has the WBA, IBO, WBC and IBF belts in his possession.

"That's been his priority since he won his WBA title, he wanted to fight the other champions so no other boxer in the sport could say they're a champion in the middleweight division.

"We've stayed in contact with Frank, we've stayed in contact with Golden Boy. If we make a fight with Saunders, that would be great. If we can make a fight with 'Canelo' (Saul Alvarez) that would be great. If not, he'll just keep fighting whoever will get in the ring with him."

The hope is that Golovkin will have his long-awaited showdown against Alvarez - who is scheduled to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6th in Las Vegas - in September. 

"If Gennady is successful March 18th, then if the 'Canelo' fight were to happen and he were successful there, then that would be his goal to unify (versus Saunders),'' Loeffler stated.

"But again, we've been trying that for the last five years and it hasn't worked for various reasons with the different champions. So if he can't unify or can't get that last title, he'll just keep fighting against the guys, the biggest fighters that will say yes to him."

There are some rumors that Golovkin could fight in his native homeland of Kazakhstan in June, while EXPO 2017 is taking place.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.