Former WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (27-0-0) will face Shefat Isufi (27-3-2) on 18th of May at Stevenage FC’s Lamex Stadium and the two will fight for the interim WBO super-middleweight title.
Initially, the fight was scheduled for April 13, but for the WBO World super-middleweight title, but the current champion Gilberto Ramirez came out and denied having ever vacated the title.
Billy Joe Saunders 🆚 Shefat Isufi
WBO Interim World Super Middleweight Title
May 18th at the Lamex Stadium in Stevenage
Live on BT Sport 👊 pic.twitter.com/caAGMLmjpv
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) March 25, 2019
All that means, that whoever claims the interim belt will be Ramirez mandatory challenger later in 2019.
Here’s what the Brit had to say:
🗣 "The BEST team in the world…"@bjsaunders_ forecasts a bright future for @mtkglobal following their deal with @espn & @trboxing.
FULL VIDEO ➡ https://t.co/z4NmB0YcNj#TeamMTKGlobal #Boxing #BillyJoeSaunders #TopRank pic.twitter.com/yBuGFqv8Sj
— MTK Global 🌍 (@MTKGlobal) March 19, 2019
“It is what it is and no problem,” he said, “I shall fight this #1 ranked opponent and I will be taking his spot and then I will fight Ramirez after. Let’s get that fight going on.
😂 Unorthodox training techniques from Tyson Fury and Billy Joe Saunders in the gym together today. pic.twitter.com/A66z2qyiOK
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 13, 2019
“If he moves up I would become world champion, but I don’t want to win it that way because I want to beat the champion. It is all good vibes from me, I am willing to fight anybody in the super-middleweight or middleweight category and put on a masterful display.”