Although Billy Joe Saunders just got his latest WBO middleweight title defense, his promoter Frank Warren is already thinking of Saunders? next fight.
When speaking to the media after Saunders? unanimous decision victory over David Lemieux, Warren announced that the plan for Saunders is to fight next spring.
"We?re going to find someone for him, and get him out in the spring. We take a risk when we feel it?s worth it," Warren said.
Saunders said he wants to face either Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin, but those two are likely to fight next May, leaving Saunders without an opponent for next spring. One possible name is former WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs, who is ranked in the WBO?s top 5 in their middleweight rankings.
Jacobs even called out Saunders and said he should be Saunders next opponent. Jacobs has not fought since beating Luis Arias, also ranked in the WBO's top 15 middleweights, on HBO this past November. That was Jacobs' first win since losing to Gennady Golovkin back in March.
"This is an official call out. I want the fight. I want to make the fight happen. It?s so easy to make, and it makes so much sense, because Canelo and Triple G are fighting soon. There?s no other opponent for you, so let?s make the fight happen," Jacobs said.
Saunders defeated Lemieux in his third title defense, but it was Saunders? first successful title defense against a former world champion. Jacobs recently signed with Eddie Hearn?s Matchroom Boxing, a competing promotion company to Warren?s Queensberry Promotions.