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WBO world middleweight champion has insisted that Gennady Golovkin would not outbox him if the pair were to meet.
Fresh from victory over David Lemieux, described by BBC Radio 5 Live's Mike Costello as "one of the best ever by a British boxer abroad", 28-year-old Saunders called for a fight with the Kazakhstani.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Saunders said:
"Golovkin's got good power, good pressure, good footwork. He's not 28 anymore, he's 35, to stand back and box me would take a lot...he would never outbox me.
"I know deep down what performance is there but you know everyone now is 'Billy Joe is this, Billy Joe is the next big thing, he's going to beat Golovkin, he can beat Canelo.'
"Realistically I don't really care because four months ago, before I went to Dominic [Ingle] I was a 'washed up bum, who was holding the title hostage.'"
Golovkin holds the WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO super versions of the middlewight title but is rumoured to be close to finalising a rematch against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez after their controversial draw in September.