By Michael Woods
WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders saw his rep as a fighter burnished with his win last Saturday over David Lemiuex. And the Brit boxer, now 26-0, seems to be sage in that he’s trying to keep his momentum abuzz.
During a recent press conference in the UK, Saunders (26-0, 12 KOs) took a slap at American middleweight ace Danny Jacobs (33-2, 29 KOs), last seen getting a W on Long Island and on HBO, over Luis Arias.
Jacobs is in prime position to get the winner of the May sequel scrap between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez, if that comes to fruition as expected. But he wants to be busy and thus, would entertain another rumble in the interim. Maybe against Saunders, who holds the WBO 160 strap?
Saunders told media members that he doesn't see much value in a Jacobs fight - and says the contest would have to happen in the UK.
“What does Daniel Jacobs bring to the table?” Saunders asked. “I’m the champion. I’ve just been to Canada so why would I go to fight in New York, he should come to London. I’m 100% up for either Golovkin or Alvarez.”
And Saunders told several reporters that he'd need a tremendous payday, as well.
Jacobs’ long-time manager, New Yorker Keith Connolly, had plenty to say.
“Asking for six million is BJ’s way of trying to price himself out of the fight,” Connolly told BoxingScene.com.
“As far as people saying Danny should come to UK, there’s more money with US TV over here, at 11 pm, over a 5 pm start. And as for BJ saying Danny’s not a big sell, BJ in a recent non-descript fight sold 300 seats in a gym in Scotland! Now, Danny against BJ at Barclays would be a sellout, for both of them, because Brooklyn fans are knowledgeable, and a 50-50 fight sells.
"Jacobs versus Saunders would be a huge money fight in America …and if BJ really wants to fight, he should tell Frank Warren to do business with Eddie Hearn. Frank works for him, not the other way around! Of course, the politics of boxing does happen, but BJ can tell his promoter to go make the fight…IF he really wants it!”
Connolly defended sharply the honor and pedigree of his boxer.
“Danny brings the best resume… so BJ dominated Lemiuex, after GGG got him, after he lost to Joachim Alcine! Danny has a win over an unbeaten Peter Quillin, and his performance against GGG, a high percentage of watchers think he won. Those eclipse anything BJ has done, he barely beat Andy Lee after hurting him. Who has he really fought? Against Lemieux, the same thing would have happened but Danny would have stopped him.
"Hey, I have to say, BJ’s stock went up, but he thinks Danny doesn’t bring anything to the table, that’s delusional! As for Danny not being a draw, what would it look like if BJ fought in the same city as Anthony Joshua, a week after? And he’s in a boxing crazed country! BJ has the WBO title, but nobody considers him the middleweight champ. Basically, he can give us plenty of reasons not to do it, start giving me reasons why Jacobs versus Saunders can happen! Bottom line, again, BJ, you’ve given reasons why it can’t happen…why not give reasons why it should!”
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