Billy Joe Saunders wants Golovkin to win Las Vegas fight against Alvarez

The WBO middleweight champion made the second defence of his title against America's Willie Monroe Jnr at the Copper Box Arena in London, ensuring he retains the one world title at 160lbs not being fought for by his high-profile rivals.

His unanimous decision victory was his first fight for 10 months, after the defeat of Artur Akavov that also followed a year of inactivity, and it is for that reason he is targeting such a swift return.

Saunders' retention of his title makes him the logical next opponent for Alvarez or Golovkin, who fight for the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, and his promoter Frank Warren remains confident a unification match-up against Golovkin can be made quickly.

The 28-year-old, whose victory also represented his first fight under new trainer Dominic Ingle, was less positive about his hopes of next fighting Alvarez, and said: "I don't think they will be ready for December, especially Canelo.

"I believe he's in talks with (Miguel) Cotto anyway but maybe Golovkin would have it because he's (nearly) 36 and that name alone would bring 25 per cent out of me. I knew that natural ability would see me beat Monroe but there's loads more to come.

"If they aren't ready I want to be out again in December. I want Golovkin to win because he's the invincible man and Dominic Ingle's fought him with Kell Brook. He's nearly 36 and if I'm not going to beat him now I will never beat him.

"I'm maturing now and I've got the beating of him. I'm not waiting around for anybody though. I want to be out of the game when I'm 31.

"There's no excuses now. They (Golovkin and Alvarez) both told me to get in shape. I'm in shape now and whoever wants it next, I'm game. If they want to be unified champion of all four titles they have to win my title.

"(My performance against Monroe Jnr) was a big improvement on my last fight. There was stuff I wanted to try but if someone is running around on the back foot, it's hard. Every time I wanted to meet him in the middle he would run, but I got the win and that's the main thing."

Warren has previously described a fight with Golovkin, should the Kazakh overcome Mexico's Alvarez, for December as a "done deal", and he added: "It depends on what happens in Vegas, but we will get Bill out again in December.

"Worst case scenario, Bill will fight again against someone else in December.

"Bill needed to get 12 rounds to get the rust out of his system. He has had a very frustrating year. He fought someone who was awkward and on the back foot for ten rounds."