TYSON FURY backed Billy Joe Saunders to have the slippery southpaw skills to become Canelo Alvarez’s ‘kryptonite’.
The super-middleweight pair were set to fight last May, until the coronavirus pandemic KO’d the clash.
Instead, Saunders, 31, went on to send Martin Murray into retirement while Canelo won the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine belts against Callum Smith.
The two are now on course to meet later on this year, so long as Alvarez, 30, gets past mandatory challenger Yildirim on February 27.
And Fury, 32, is confident his close friend Saunders has all the tools in the box to dethrone pound-for-pound king Canelo.
He told Gareth A Davies : “Me and Billy Joe Saunders, we are not journeymen, we are not in boxing for a payday,” he added.
“We’re not in boxing to make some numbers up and get a few extra million quid in our bank. Not interested.
“We would rather have zero money and win than take fights we’re not ready for.
“He needs to be active and he will punch Canelo Alvarez all around the ring.
“Canelo Alvarez’s kryptonite is someone who boxes and moves — southpaw, slick, good feet, good hand speed, good power.
“Billy Joe Saunders does all of that, but he needs to be active.”
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Fury’s concern of ring rust comes with Saunders having boxed only once in 2020.
For similar reasons, the WBC heavyweight champion pointed to a lack of time in the UFC octagon for Conor McGregor’s loss to Dustin Poirier.
Fury, who is in talks to face Anthony Joshua this year, has urged Saunders to fight frequently in order to conquer the middleweight or super-middle divisions.
He said: “The one thing I say, he needs to be active. And the one thing he has not been, is active.
“Just like me. When I’m active and I’m injury free, no one’s got a chance against me. Just like Billy Joe.
“No middle or super-middle in the world has got a chance when he’s active.
“But the good old cliché with me and Billy Joe Saunders is we are never active. We have had more inactivity in our careers then we’ve had activity.
“Billy Joe has had the one fight with Martin Murray which went on I don’t know how long.
“For me to say what Billy Joe needs is Billy Joe needs another fight. And maybe another one after that.”
