Gennady Golovkin's team claim Billy Joe Saunders is 'not serious' about a unification fight

Gennady Golovkin wants to unify the division by beating Saunders

Billy Joe Saunders is 'not serious' about facing Gennady Golovkin in a unification bout, according to the Kazakh's manager.

Saunders (23-0-KO12) became WBO world middleweight champion in December when he outpointed Andy Lee, and Golovkin's team were quick to offer to put the WBA Super, interim WBC and IBF belts on the line in a lucrative clash at Madison Square Garden.

After Saunders welcomed the challenge, Golovkin's manager, Oleg Hermann, claims he has found the responses from the 26-year-old's team confusing.

They just point at each other and are not able to give a concrete answer. How it is possible to take them serious? Oleg Hermann on Team Saunders

Hermann said: "We made an offer to fight in April. But frankly I can't take Saunders and his team serious and I don't believe the fight is going to happen.

"Two weeks ago he said that he is 18 months away from the fight with Golovkin. Now he says that he's ready to fight right now but it's up to his management.

Billy Joe Saunders (L) beat Andy Lee to become world champion

"His promoter says that Saunders is on vacation for several weeks and they wait for him to be back. They just point at each other and are not able to give a concrete answer. How it is possible to take them serious?"

Golovkin (34-0-KO31) added the IBF belt to his collection when he halted David Lemieux in October but must face mandatory challenger Tureano Johnson if he means to keep hold of it.

Another possible challenger to the 33-year-old is WBC champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, who called Golovkin out after outpointing Miguel Cotto to take the vacant title.