Legendary middleweight Bernard Hopkins has told Billy Joe Saunders he may have missed his chance to fight Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

Saunders was initially due to take on Alvarez on May 2 before the fight fell through due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the Brit has ruled himself out of re-scheduling their clash for September as he insists he will not be ready in time.

And while the 30-year-old southpaw is now working towards a Canelo fight further down the line, Hopkins, who is part of Alvarez’s promotional team, has warned Saunders he may not get his chance again.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "He missed out and there's no guarantee, especially in the world of boxing, that Billy [Joe] Saunders will get a call from anybody, pertaining a world champion, the biggest spotlight you can get - pandemic or not - opportunity.

 "It did (surprise me that he ruled himself out), because Billy Joe Saunders is not a rookie in the game.

"Billy Joe Saunders has been in some highlighted moments. He understands, he had a taste of the high level."

Canelo is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world having not lost since his defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr seven years ago.

A fight many still want to see the Mexican take on in September is the trilogy bout with Gennady Golovkin.

The pair fought to a split decision draw back in September 2017, before Alvarez won the rematch by majority decision.

Since then, the 29-year-old has beaten Britain’s Rocky Fielding, American Danny Jacobs and Russian Sergey Kovalev.