Warren: Billy Joe Saunders will return in September

According to promoter Frank Warren, WBO middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders will be back in action this September, whether or not it’s against Avtandil Khurtsidze. Khurtsidze, Saunders’ mandatory challenger, was recently nabbed on RICO charges which has his life and career in serious jeopardy. It also put a halt to his first full world title shot against Saunders which was had been set for July 8th.

"We're upset with what has happened but Billy will fight now in September," Warren told ESPN.

"He has got to have a fight that week of the Golovkin-Canelo fight, but not on the same bill.

"Billy has to fight his mandatory which is Khurtsidze, but I can't see how it's going to be him."

Warren goes on to say that Saunders has interest in taking on the winner of the Canelo-Golovkin fight on Sep. 16, and that if either man wants to completely unify the division, that they’ll have to go through Saunders.

But as for Saunder’s next opponent, Warren did make it a point to say that it’s highly unlikely that Saunders will defend his strap against Daniel Jacobs, who put up a stiff test when he faced Golovkin last year. David Lemieux, Ryoto Murata, and Rob Brant would all appear to be next in line for a shot at Saunders, all rated above Jacobs right now, according to the WBO’s ratings.