WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders is very slightly leaning to Gennadiy Golovkin to overcome Sergiy Derevyanchenko on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Golovkin and Derevyanchenko will battle for the vacant IBF middleweight world title. Golovkin was previously stripped of the belt last year, when he failed to make a mandatory defense against Derevyanchenko. Golovkin instead went forward with a rematch against Canelo Alvarez.

Saunders expects a very physical fight, where GGG, 37-years-old, will take damage and age a bit more. 

"It's a fight that, you could say, will not be skilful. It will be a scrap," Saunders told Sky Sports. "This fight is not about standing back technically, ping ping ping. This will be crash, bang, wallop. It will be over quickly. Whoever the winner, it will be a war. This is a fight for Golovkin which will take the edge off him. It will put a bit more age on him."

Golovkin is now partners with promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport.

If Golovkin is unable to secure a trilogy fight with Canelo Alvarez, then Hearn has several other options to pursue for GGG.

"You've got Demetrius Andrade. I would love Demetrius Andrade to fight Golovkin or Canelo. We've got Saunders at 168 [lbs]. Has the ability to come back down to 160 [lbs]. Danny Jacobs is fighting at 168, but probably could still make 160. If those guys want to move up, you've got Callum Smith as well," Hearn said.

"I think the key in 2020 is get all those fights made. I would love to see Golovkin and Canelo, but ultimately Canelo will decide who he fights, and right now, Golovkin is not on that list frustratingly for us."