Avtandil Khurtsidze

In early February 2017, mandatory challenger Khurtsidze took a 'step-a-side' fee to allow Billy Joe Saunders to pursue a bigger fight.[2] On 28 February, it was announced that Khurtsidze would fight British boxer Tommy Langford for the vacant interim WBO title in April.[3]

After retaining his belts against Jacobs, Gennady Golovkin stated that he wanted to unify the middleweight division and hold all the available belts. Golovkin said, "My goal is all the belts in the middleweight division. Of course, Billy Joe is the last one. It is my dream." Rumours suggested that the fight was expected to take place in Golovkin's home country, Kazakhstan, in June, during the EXPO 2017.[4] On 20 March, Golovkin said that he would fight Saunders in Kazakhstan or the O2 Arena in London.[5]

Saunders wrote on social media that despite not having seen Golovkin's fight with Jacobs, he was ready to fight him.[6] Saunders claimed to have signed the contract and gave Golovkin a deadline to sign his.[7] On 29 March, Frank Warren also stated that Golovkin would have ten days to sign for the fight.[8] Saunders later claimed to have moved on from Golovkin, until Warren said the deal was still in place.[9] Over the next week, Saunders continued to insult Golovkin through social media.[10] On 7 April, Warren told iFL TV that Golovkin had a hand injury, which was the reason the fight had not been made. In the interview, he said, "At the moment, they’re saying that Golovkin’s injured. So we’re waiting to see where this is all going. But as far as I’m concerned, we agreed [to] terms." It was also noted that he would wait until 6 May, for any updates.[11] On 11 April, it was reported that the fight would not take place; Golovkin ultimately fought Canelo Alvarez, in September 2017.[12]

On 22 April 2017, Khurtsidze knocked Langford out in round 5 with a left hook to secure his next fight against Saunders.[13] A day later the fight between Saunders and Khurtsidze was announced as taking place at the Copper Box in London on 8 July 2017.[14] On 8 June, Khurtsidze was arrested in New York along with 32 others, linking him in a Russian and Georgian crime syndicate. Racketeer charges and conspiracy to commit fraud were the two alleged charges, promoter Lou DiBella said that, while the fight would not be completely called off, it would be postponed.[15][16] Due to the fight being a mandatory defence, Saunders's promoter, Frank Warren, said that he was unable to make a voluntary defence and would be taken off the card.[17]