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Saunders says he wouldn't be ready to fight Canelo in September

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

Billy Joe Saunders won't be on the opposite side of the ring from Canelo Alvarez in September.

The British champion told Mike Coppinger of The Athletic he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the fight, saying the coronavirus pandemic and family responsibilities prevented him from training normally.

"I'm not ready (in) September," Saunders said. "You can say to me, 'Billy Joe, a billion pounds, but you're not ready and you're going to get beat.' I would say, 'Keep it.' Let me get ready, let me win, and I will fight for free.

"I'm nobody's stepping stone. I'm not another belt for Canelo. They want to try mind games. That don't work with me; I play the biggest mind games in British boxing."

The undefeated WBO super middleweight champion was set to defend his title against Alvarez on May 2 in Las Vegas before the fight was canceled because of the pandemic.

Saunders, 30, said he'd spent much of his time during the pandemic in England, helping his grandparents through a "few (health) scares" and looking after his children. Saunders hasn't fought since defeating Marcelo Esteban Coceres in November 2019. He is currently training in Spain and said he hopes to "get off the ring rust" in October and then book a major fight for December.

Alvarez is scheduled to fight Sept. 12 but remains without an opponent.

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