Daniel Jacobs and Peter Quillin pose before their Dec. 2015 fight. Photo credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

Danny Jacobs, who stunned former middleweight titleholder Peter Quillin in just 85 seconds in December, likely won’t fight until late summer with WBO titlist Billy Joe Saunders as his first priority and Andy Lee perhaps as a more realistic option, Showtime boxing head Stephen Espinoza told RingTV.com on Saturday.

There were rumors that Jacobs (31-1, 28 knockouts) may take on former titleholder Lee on May 21 at Barclays Center but that likely won’t happen with that date approaching, Espinoza said in a text message. Espinoza would like to make Saunders vs. Jacobs on Showtime but recognizes that Saunders may opt for a rematch instead against Chris Eubank Jr., who stopped Nick Blackwell in 10 rounds on Saturday.

If Jacobs can’t get Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) in the ring, then he will move on to Lee, who lost his WBO title to Saunders in December by a majority decision, Espinoza said. Saunders has a scheduled title defense on April 30 against unheralded Max Bursak.

Jacobs, a cancer survivor, has already started a war-of-words with Saunders, calling him out on social media. “There’s been a lot a talk about my next (opponent)…wanna make it clear, I’ll fight anyone they put in front of me. But I want BJ !” Jacobs Tweeted on Sunday.

Saunders wasted little time in responding, firing back, “you want me I’ll kick your ass son, your not even world champ belt number2 you hold.” (Editor’s note: Jacobs holds a middleweight title unrecognized by RingTV.com.) Not usually prone to trash talking, Jacobs made a plea for Saunders to sign on the dotted line to face him. “No need to go back n forth,” Jacobs said. “U know where I stand ! I want dat ass. Sign the contract!!!!” Saunders then asked for Jacobs to contact his management team to make it happen.

While Jacobs is the mandatory to Gennady Golovkin’s WBA middleweight title, Jacobs’ team has taken the approach that Jacobs will face Golovkin when it makes the most financial sense, targeting 2017 or even 2018.

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