Billy Joe Saunders (Photo : Getty Images)
WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders said he is open to fight Gennady Golovkin but only if there is a huge amount of money involved.
After defeating Andy Lee via 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday at the Manchester Arena, Saunders finds himself in line to face the top boxers of the middleweight division.
Golovkin, one of the rising stars of the sport, is one opponent Saunders is looking forward to, but the British middleweight only wants a fight if a payday of £4 million is involved.
"Put the money on the table [and] Golovkin, let him go and say 'let's get it on, let's fight. Have four million pound, let's get it on," Saunders told iFL TV. "No problems, unification [bout with Golovkin]."
Golovkin has yet to confirm his next opponent in March or April next year as part of his voluntary title defense before facing Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the WBC middleweight belt.
However, Scott Gilfoid of Boxing News 24 believes Saunders is in no position to demand such amount despite being the WBO middleweight champ.
Gilfoid noted that Golovkin vs Saunders would not be a "sellable fight" on pay-per-view unless the British champ beats the likes of Miguel Cotto and Alvarez.
According to Rob Lancaster of Bleacher Report, there are other possible opponents for Saunders that would make more sense.
Lancaster listed the likes of Cotto, Daniel Jacobs, and Chris Eubank Jr as potential future boxing foes for the British fighter.
Saunders has expressed interest in fighting Cotto, saying that it would be a "dream bout" for the former to face the Puerto Rican boxer.
His promoter Frank Warren also confirmed the same sentiment of booking a fight against Cotto, who lost against Alvarez via unanimous decision last month.
"Since I've been a young boy, I've wanted to fight Cotto," Saunders said, reports The Guardian.
"I'd love that fight, it would be a dream - and to go to America and do it, would be an even bigger dream."
Another potential opponent is Jacobs, who had a remarkable win against Peter Quillin via first round stoppage earlier this month.
Jacobs was a guest analyst on the SHO Extreme broadcast of Lee vs Saunders fight and rooted for the Irishman, simply because he is looking forward to a big fight in New York against him, but with Lee suffering a defeat at the hands of Saunders, it is possible Jacobs would consider fighting the Gypsy champ.
But according to Lancaster, the fight that would "financially" make sense for Saunders is a rematch against Eubank Jr.
Saunders outpointed Eubank in November 2014, and ever since then, both fighters have become bitter rivals.
Lancaster noted that a second installment between the two fighters would be the "biggest bout" for Saunders' immediate future as their rivalry would entice boxing fans to watch the fight.
As for Lee, he would probably get a rematch with Saunders as both fighters agreed to meet again in the boxing ring for the second time.
"He deserved to win, so I can't complain with the decision," Lee said, reports the Irish Examiner.
"I would like another go of it, I felt I finished stronger but the two knockdowns cost me the fight."
