Billy Joe Saunders: WBO champion confident Gennady Golovkin could not 'outbox' him

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'Next best thing?' Billy Joe Saunders doesn't listen to the hype

WBO world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders says he is confident Gennady Golovkin could not "outbox" him.

Saunders, 28, called for a fight against the multiple title holder after his own win against David Lemieux in Canada last week.

"Golovkin's got good power, good pressure, good footwork," Saunders told BBC Sport.

"He's not 28 anymore, he's 35, to stand back and box me would take a lot."

Saunders has received plaudits for his performance in Canada, with it being hailed as "one of the best ever by a British boxer abroad", but says he is not getting carried away by the praise he has been getting.

"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,' he said.

"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 WBC, IBF, IBO and WBA Super versions of the middlewight title and is expected to sign to fight a rematch against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez after their controversial draw in September.

Saunders says he would like to fight either man in the future: "If I box one of them I'd bring out another level in me again."

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