Saul "Canelo" Alvarez returns to the ring next month as his next fight is now set.
Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) will defend his WBA (Super), WBC and The Ring super middleweight titles against mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 27, with the fight broadcast live on DAZN in all territories except Mexico. It'll be Alvarez's first bout since his unanimous victory over Callum Smith on Dec. 19, in which the Mexican star won the WBA and vacant WBC title.
“Avni Yildirim is a good boxer and I know we will put on an exciting fight,” Canelo said in a press release. “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.”
For the WBC title to be on the line at Canelo-Smith, Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) had to be guaranteed the next fight against the winner within 90 days. Yildirim will be stepping into the ring for the first time since Feb. 23, 2019 — a split technical decision loss to American Anthony Dirrell. The 29-year-old from Turkey hopes to use the fight against Alvarez as a springboard to his own stardom.
“I am honored as a mandatory to fight again for the big green belt - thank you to everyone who is involved,” Yildirim said. “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 (country) of Turkey.”