Billy Joe Saunders steps aside to let Lee fight Quillin, smart move?

At the risk of boring people to death, I just want ye to realise that if Andy can't chin Chocco, BJS will have to fight the super-connected, super-protected Quillin in his own backyard, in the states.
Ye do realise the implications, yes?
Personally I don't regard that as good management.

 

It looks like BJS may have pulled a blinder as Sturm moving to SMW will probably give BJS a shot at the IBF belt

So he gets his step aside money and still gets a title shot

Nice work!

 

In fairness it is luck rather than judgement, nobody knew the great Felix Sturm was going to refuse the N'Dan fight.
In any case I would favour N'Dam to beat Joe....so maybe not such a great move when I think about it.

 

You say 'nobody knew' but ***** will have a lot of people who keep there ears to the floor, I bet he knew.

 

Definitely more lucky than anything - presuming nothing is set in stone contractually with Haymon/lee

Ndam fight in the UK is much easier than a quillin fight in the US.

 

Yes but HNN is no great "gift" for BJS, is he?
He is quite likely to have the beating of BJS.

 

He's an easier fight than Lee and Quillin, also if he were to lose to N'Dam as he's been paid to step aside with the WBO wouldn't he be able to just jump into another title shot?

 

He would lose the mando position if he fights for the IBF. Not to say they couldn't make the fight but it be a voluntary defence not a mandated one.

Given the options here I'd how the IBF route. Best case scenario BJS v lee is a WBO/IBF unification. Worst case scenario the Eubank jr WBA interim route is always available as a tinpot back up.

 

Yeah I think that's his best option as well.

Fight N'dam for the IBF who I think he has the beating of, if he wins that and Lee comes through against Quillin it sets up a big domestic unification clash.

 

HNN is very underrated due to not having a big punch. Apart from those 3 rounds against Quillin (easily rectified mistakes) he has hardly lost a round that Ive seen in all the fights Ive watched him in.
I would pick him to beat Quillin and Lee quite comfortably today -- and also favour him against BJS - but less confidently as Joe matches him for speed, just about.

 

BJS still looks quite small at the weight would love for him to get solid and powerful, if he could have more sting to punches he could easily beat quilling and lee, because he is a very good boxer and fast.

 

his speed could well decrease, and his stamina is already questionable.

 

Should BJS pass on this latest gift being offered this will be 3 times passing on a world title fight for whatever the reason.
Something is very amiss here-a confidense issue perhaps?

 

If he dodges N'Dam then it would definitely seem that way. If he ever wants a middleweight title, then N'Dam is about as good as a shot will get. He's not easy by any means, but before long Canelo and GGG could have those titles wrapped up and he's not beating either of those.

Take your chances now, get a few payday defenses under the belt and then the big test and big money comes if you can get a unification against either of those.