Buddy McGirt believes that Billy Joe Saunders' antics over a ring size dispute with Canelo Saunders is merely a macguffin on which to hang some mind games.
The coach oversaw Derek Chisora’s defeat to Joseph Parker, which itself featured some gamesmanship from the 37-year-old Briton, who introduced a spiderman character into a breakfast between the two, and then threw a strop over which of the pair could walk into the ring first.
McGirt thinks that Saunders’ own embrace of palaver is merely to assert his authority despite being the smaller draw for the event.
He explained to the DAZN Boxing Show : “I don’t think it's the ring size, I think it’s more: ‘You’re not going to play these games with me. You made a deal and you’re going to stick to it.’
“It’s coming down to mind games now. It’s nothing to do with the two feet.
“I’m thinking Canelo, you’re here, you’re going to give us the advantage.”
McGirt also believes that the size of the ring, whether - 20, 22 or 24 feet - may only offer a slight psychological comfort to Saunders, and should he be closed in by Canelo it will make little difference.
“Some guys feel more comfortable knowing they've got that space,” he confirmed.
“When some guy’s getting in your face it feels like you’re in a phone booth, it doesn't matter if you’re in a forty foot ring.”
Canelo will fight Saunders on May 8 on DAZN across the world (except in Mexico).