Potential Billy Joe Saunders vs. Callum Smith 168 Unification Match. How Does This Play Out?

Frank Warren has supposedly put a 50/50 split offer on the table to Eddie Hearn for a PPV match in the UK. I have my doubts the match takes place, these two don't like each other all that much, it could just be a publicity stunt on Warren's part. Or maybe Saunders sees something in Mundo he thinks he can exploit, and truly fancies his chances. Also a win over Mundo easily catapults Saunders into one of, if not the top spot in the UK, and give him a bargaining chips against Canelo or GGG. So it may be a risk he's more than willing to take. Because on top of that, he'd also be the man a 168 at that point. If he loses, at least he can say he dared to be great, by taking on one of the only legitimate powerhouse monsters in that vastly overrated division.

Personally I think this is a potentially bone headed move on Saunders part, and not just because he had that one off moment against Isufi, where he got rocked by the shot to the temple, after all, Isufi used to campaign at Light Heavy and is a decent puncher. But here's the catch, Callum should be at 175 as well. To say he's a big SMW is an understatement, he's a literal monster, and kind of a weight bully, so there's always a possibility that he gives Saunders the N'Dam treatment and comes out guns blazing and bashes him out of the ring in 5 or 6 rounds. Also, fingers crossed, maybe Saunders gets him at that moment where he can no longer make the weight, sooner or later, that day is coming.

Stumbling block for Mundo? Saunders is more elusive and far more defensively sound than N'Dam, has a better chin than N'Dam, has better footwork and timing than N'Dam, so don't lockstep go with the herd. That match against that particular MW meant nothing. Make no mistake, Saunders is the most skilled guy Callum will have ever shared the ring with, quite frankly, Saunders is also more well rounded than Groves. N'Dam was landing some solid shots on Callum, as was Groves, Groves was outboxing Callum was relative ease in between getting rocked. So... the idea that Saunders can't hang could just be a reflexive figment of our imagination. It's not like Smith has great footwork or does anything all that well. His timing is decent, has a solid straight right and a counter left hook, things Saunders can easily neutralize, also it must be noted, Callum hasn't faced a ton of southpaws in the past, is there a reason for that? Hmmm. He has issues with guys with good timing and a solid jab, Saunders jab is a beauty, and we know he not only trains to the level of his opponent, but sometimes also fights to the level of his opponent, so the idea of Saunders 2.0 putting on a masterclass shouldn't be out of the question, also, the possibility that we see a Saunders 3.0, that brings that immaculate Gypsy slickness and puts on a star making showcase of the skillset all of us fanboys of his knows he possesses, isn't far fetched. Yes, this is an incredibly dangerous match for Billy Joe, but also a winnable one.

What say you?

 

How about the people like IB, myself, @Serge and @lepinthehood who have long believed Saunders to be the fighter that showed up that night, and that was only validation? You can poo poo that performance all you want, but the reality is, when has Lemieux ever been as thoroughly dominated aside from the GGG match? The Alcine loss was very competitive, and that had to do with not being in the proper mindset coming off of a loss. The Rubio match before the KO was a one sided beatdown from Lemieux. No one has ever done that to Lemieux, except for the best MW in the world. Also the win over Lee and Eubank, are also kind of indicative of what level he's truly operating on. He had the matches all sewn up, and took his foot off the gas both times and coasted. Saunders only downside is lackadaisical mindset and occasional laziness. But when he's on, he's as special as they come.

 

How many matches of his if you actually seen? Just wondering.