WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) will defend his title against WBO #5 rated Willie Monroe Jr (21-2, 6 KOs) on September 16 at the Copper Box Arena in London. The bout will take place the same date that WBA/WBC/IBF middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin defends the rest of the 160lb world belts against Canelo Alvarez. Golovkin previously stopped Monroe in 2015.

Saunders’ promoter Frank Warren said, “Bill will have to be at the very top of his game to get the win on September 16th. The winner of this fight will have the missing piece on the Middleweight jigsaw, Canelo and Golovkin both want that WBO belt.

“If Bill comes through this fight we are pushing hard for the winner of Canelo vs. Golovkin. If Golovkin wins I hope we can do that fight in December, if Canelo wins it could be in the New Year. Bill has to go out there and prove a point, there is a lot on the line.”