Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 54-1-2 (36) will defend his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim 21-2 (12) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on February 27.
The 30-year-old Mexican superstar, whose lone loss was to Floyd Mayweather Jr over seven years ago, is coming off a classy 12-round points win over Callum Smith in December.
“Avni Yildirim is a good boxer and I know we will put on an exciting fight,” said Alvarez, a four-weight world champion.
“I’m very glad that we are able to bring this event to Miami, a short distance from where my hero, Muhammad Ali, trained. February 27 will be a great night for the sport.”
Yildirim, 29, of Istanbul, Turkey, has not fought in two years. In his last outing he lost a 10-round technical decision to Anthony Dirrell after the American was cut above the eye from an accidental headclash in the seventh and the bout halted on the advice of the ringside doctor when the injury worsened.
Despite his recent inactivity, Alvarez’s trainer Eddy Reynoso rates Yildirim as a boxer.
“He’s a strong fighter, a warrior, a tall fighter that is tough with good power,” said Reynoso to Little Giant Boxing.
“He had a great fight with Dirrell. He’s been a little inactive because of the pandemic, but he’s a strong fighter.”
Alvarez has made it clear that his immediate goal is to unify all four belts in the super middleweight division this year, which would mean facing WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders 30-0 (14) and IBF titleholder Caleb Plant 20-0 (12).
The 31-year-old Saunders was on the verge of announcing a fight with Alvarez to take place in May last year when the global coronavirus pandemic hit and put paid to those plans.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing will promote Alvarez vs Yildirim in what is understood to be the first fight in a two-fight deal that will include a bout against Saunders on the Cinco de Mayo weekend in May.
“Even in a pandemic, Saul is looking to be more active than ever and in his plan to be undisputed champion he must overcome his mandatory challengers to keep his belt,” said Hearn.
“Yildirim is the first of those challenges who will be attempting to dethrone the king.”
Yildirim said: “I am honoured as a mandatory to fight again for the big green belt – thank you to everyone who is involved.
“I always give my all – and everybody should be ready to see a war. I am coming to make my country proud – I am representing the whole of Turkey.”
Outside of unifying the 168-pound division Alvarez’s other goal is to take his show on the road, according to Reynoso.
“The biggest fighters in the history of boxing have had the pleasure of fighting all over the world,” Reynoso said. “Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather have done it.
“Saul is a boxing star, and that’s what we want to do. Go fight in Japan, Europe, Mexico, US and basically fight in all of the continents.
“That would be very beautiful for us, to learn other countries’ cultures and also to show Canelo’s boxing skills all over the world.
“In Japan, I would love to see Canelo fight there in the Tokyo Dome. It’s one of our projects in the works. It’s a vision we have as a team to defend a title in Japan.
“The people in Japan are very respectful. They make you feel at home, so I think taking Saul to Japan would be successful.”
