Billy Joe Saunders dismisses Chris Eubank Jr's world title credentials

Billy Joe Saunders has shrugged off Chris Eubank Jr's challenge and would prefer to make his first defence against Miguel Cotto.

The 26-year-old from Hatfield (23-0-KO12) became WBO world middleweight champion by outpointing Andy Lee in Manchester on Saturday and was immediately called out by Eubank Jr (21-1-KO16), who he beat for the British, Commonwealth and European titles in November 2014.

Eubank Jr was most recently in action on December 12 when he stopped another former Saunders victim, Gary O'Sullivan - but Saunders is more interested in facing the legendary Cotto (40-5-KO33) than renewing hostilities with the Brighton man.

Let him go and fight Daniel Jacobs. Don't get mandatory for a world title, thinking you're world level and then go back to fight for the British.

Saunders said: "Eubank is fighting people I beat two years ago. Let him go down the WBA route. Let him go and fight Daniel Jacobs. Don't get mandatory for a world title, thinking you're world level and then go back to fight for the British.

"He'll never be world champion. He relies on work rate. He's not good enough. I'm the champion now and I've got the say. If the Eubank Jr fight comes, it's got to be for a lot of money but it'll be my rules. They just talk about fighting for a world title but they don't have the balls.

"I'd rather give Nick Blackwell a shot. Eubank Jr said he was going for the WBA route so let him go fight Gennady Golovkin. So if he beats him, then we'll have a big unification fight - that's good, isn't it?

"I've been there and done it. I've beaten him. If the money's right, put a blindfold on me, get me in the same condition as tonight and I'll beat him. I'm in the shape of my life. You are what you eat and I've learned that. I've got to grow as a world champion and move on to bigger and better things.

"I want Cotto and I want Canelo. I'd love them fights. I'm ready to step up. I've beaten Spike and I've beaten Eubank Jr. I'm world champion now and I've got the say. I'm going to have Christmas off and we'll go from there.

"Since I've been a young boy I have loved the Cotto fight. His style suits me. I would take it next. I'd have two weeks off and look for the new year. I've wanted it since I was a boy. It would be a dream and going to America to do it would be an even bigger dream."

There is also the possibility of a rematch with Lee (34-3-1-KO24), who was defending the title for the first time having beaten Matt Korobov to the vacant strap in December 2014.

Saunders said: "A rematch could go too. We could do a bigger event down in London. We can talk about that. That was a good fight and fair play to him. There was no trash talk - two proper fighting men. It was a close fight. He deserves a lot of respect and if business works, we can do a rematch.

"People think I'll go and get fat and have a break. I'll have Christmas off but now I've worked for that title, I know what I'm up against. I know I've got to stay on form to compete at this level.

"People see me in that ring and say I look easy to hit. When you're in there with me, it's different. Look what Lee did to Peter Quillin and Matt Korobov. When I'm in there, people don't give me enough credit. Ask anyone who's been in the ring with me."

Lee had no complaints with the verdict but would welcome the chance to level the scores in a rematch.

"It's been a pleasure the whole way through," he said. "Both of us conducted ourselves like gentlemen and fought our hearts out.

"The two knockdowns cost me the fight. It was a close fight. I can't complain about the decision. I would like another go at it."