After becoming the new World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion, Billy Joe Saunders is planning to take it up a notch by setting his sights on big name boxers.
Saunders outpointed Andy Lee over the weekend via decision, something that was highlighted by two knockdowns in the third round, although the Irishman tried to rally in the later rounds. Sadly, such wasn't enough.
After a brief discussion with his manager, Frank Warren, via the Telegraph, Saunders bares that he is going after two names — Saúl "Canelo" Alvarez and Miguel Cotto. Alvarez and Cotto slugged it out last month with the former winning via decision.
As it stands now, Saunders may have to set his sights on just Cotto since everyone is aware that Alvarez has been closely linked to a possible tiff with Gennady Golovkin in 2016.
While Alvarez is tipped to face someone in May before that, it remains to be seen if Saunders would be ready and an option for the lineal World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.
But facing Cotto could depend on whom the Puerto Rican opts to face next. He is likely to prefer a big name fighter so Saunders could be in the cards.
Cotto is also under consideration by Timothy Bradley Jr., although "Desert Storm" is now technically the lone candidate as Manny Pacquiao's possible opponent.
But with Adrien Broner now reportedly added to the list, there is a chance that Bradley's preference of fighting Cotto next could take place if Pacquiao chooses Broner over him.
Saunders has not yet established himself as a pay-per-view (PPV) draw, although the fact that he is an admirer of Cotto could be used as a selling point per Boxing News Online.
But if Bradley ends up getting his wish, Saunders may have to explore the market for other possible opponents to defend his newly minted WBO belt.
