WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders will be making his first title defense on April 30 against Max Bursak. The fight is expected to be his first step before taking a bigger fight against either Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez possibly in July.

Ironically, the camps of Golovkin and Saunders were in talks for a possible match back in January, as previously reported.

First Title Defense Set

Billy Joe Saunders, the reigning WBO middleweight champion, will be making his first title defense on April 30 against Max Bursak at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Saunders is not expected to encounter a rough sailing with Bursak, who has lost three of his last six fights. Despite that unimpressive streak, the undefeated boxer is not taking his adversary lightly.

"Nothing comes easy in boxing and I'm definitely not taking Bursak for granted. He's a good, good, fighter and very dangerous and if I don't come in 100 percent then he could cause an upset in my first title defense,” said Saunders.

It will be the first time that Saunders will be taking the ring since capturing the middleweight title back in December. The Hatfield fighter won via decision to dethrone erstwhile champion Andy Lee, who many felt was far from impressive.

However, Saunders' future plans after Bursak seems to be the one which is more interesting. He is eyeing another fight this July and his targets are two of the big names in the middleweight division today -- Gennady Golovkin and Canelo "Saul" Alvarez.

Alvarez vs. Golovkin Mega Bout Still Uncertain

Ironically, Golovkin and Alvarez could be facing one another later this year after their respective voluntary fights.

Golovkin will be facing Dominique Wade on April 23 at the Forum in Inglewood, California while Alvarez goes up against Amir Khan on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

So if the two are mandated by the WBC to face each other, how can Saunders possibly find a way to make a fight happen with either?

155 lbs or Bust?

Everyone knows that an Alvarez vs. Golovkin fight still have issues to address and this has something to do with the catchweight. Alvarez wants a 155 lbs. catchweight stipulation and Golovkin is not willing to recognize it. It is the one thing expected to hinder the blockbuster fight.

Saunders and manager Frank Warren are apparently aware of the scenario and could be waiting in the wings just in case that tiff does go kaput.

“I don't think [the proposed fight between Alvarez and Golovkin] will go on. If that fight goes on it'll be next year. Bill's got himself right in the mix with those names,” says Warren.

Of the two, Saunders seem to be opening the book once more on a possible face-off with Triple G.

Will Second Time Be a Charm?

Fight talks failed several months back when Saunders wanted more money on the table. The $2 million offer was something the Briton claimed he could make if he took a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr. It was here when Golovkin and company went on a different direction.

That same issue is likely to crop again in case Saunders and Warren end up fixing a fight with Golovkin and his group. The same scenario is likely to happen with Alvarez just in case.

Related