Saunders says that he didn't take the fight for two key reasons.
(2:10 video time)
1. "I'll be totally honest.. If they said you can fight in September of course I could make the date and enter the ring but there's a difference between making the date and going in to WIN a fight! I'm not 100% where I need to be! It's impossible. That sort of fight you need your 3,4,5 months. You need your 5 months preparation and then boom, you're ready. Not saying I want 5 months guaranteed but..."
2. "I've worked all my life. It's like you're working all your life now and you're ready to sell your house. It's like someone comes along and cuts your money in half! Someone's on Canelo's side, I won't say his name, but he said to me that you were already told the budget and you were never gonna get the fight! They offered Quigley the fight, that shows says a lot about the budget!"
BJS adheres to the Prince Naseem, Ricky Hatton philosophy of ballooning between fights. Ain't gonna cut it I'm afraid. If he kept in shape he could have made the September date. Negotiations were ongoing between his and Canelo's teams in June FFS.