Newly crowned WBO Billy Joe Saunders said he is open to a unification bout with IBF, IBO, and WBA middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin, but only at a pay day of £4 million (AU$8.2 million).

Saunders, who defeated Andy Lee via 12-round unanimous decision for the WBO middleweight belt at the Manchester Arena, believes he is still “18 months away” from fighting Golovkin. But if the chance presents itself, the British middleweight said he is willing to fight “GGG” if there is a huge chunk of money on the table.

“Put the money on the table [and] Golovkin, let him go and say ‘let’s get it on, let’s fight. Have four million pounds, let’s get it on,” Saunders told iFL TV. “No problems, unification [bout with Golovkin].”

However, Scott Gilfoid of Boxing News 24 is convinced it would be impossible for Saunders to make such amount from fighting Golovkin. Gilfoid noted that Golovkin vs Saunders would not be a “sellable fight” on pay-per-view unless the British champ beats the likes of Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

According to Bleacher Report’s Rob Lancaster, it would financially make sense for Saunders if he fights Chris Eubank Jr. Eubank and Saunders have fought each other in November in 2014, with the latter winning on points. Their rivalry is still very much alive, which could entice boxing fans to see a second installment between the two Englishmen.

“Financially, it would make sense for Saunders,” Lancaster wrote. “It is likely to be the biggest bout out there in the immediate future, and the rivalry would create headlines and line each other's pockets.”

Meanwhile, Golovkin, who is set to fight in March or April next year, will take on a voluntary title defense before fighting Alvarez for the WBC middleweight belt. The undefeated Kazakh, who is known for his eagerness to unify all middleweight title belts, could consider fighting Saunders, who now holds the WBO belt of the weight class.

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