Canelo Álvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) is preparing to defend his WBC and WBA (Super) super-middleweight titles against mandatory challenger Avni Yıldırım (21-2, 12 KOs) on 27th February, and Eddie Hearn is banking on a grand affair in the faceoff.
After more than a year of hiatus, Canelo returned to action in December last year against Callum Smith, winning the fight via unanimous decision at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Just three months after beating Smith, the Mexican boxing maestro will don the sparring gloves again as he gets his first title defense of 2021- against the Turkish pugilist Yıldırım.
Seeing Canelo in Miami a “special” affair for Eddie Hearn
With two weeks to go before the bout, Eddie Hearn oozes excitement for seeing Canelo back in action.
“It’s great to see Canelo so active, especially in the world we live in at the moment, I think it’s a real statement from him,” said the Matchroom Sport MD, “he’s mixing it up by fighting in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, to be promoting Canelo at the home of the Miami Dolphins is pretty special.”
Yıldırım will be followed by WBO super-middleweight titleholder Billy Joe Saunders for a three belt unification fight, which is expected to take place sometime in May this year.
Prior to that, Hearn expects to see an estimated 15k spectators flocking to see Canelo take on Yıldırım at the venue in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“We’re going to have around 15,000 in there, Avni is the mandatory challenger and it’s a great opportunity for him and a big opportunity for Canelo to stay active hopefully before a big Billy Joe Saunders fight and on a huge night on February 27,” added Hearn. (H/T BoxingScene)
A former WBC International super middleweight champion, Yıldırım has full confidence to give his cent percent against Canelo, and also wants to do it for his nation.
“I am honored as a mandatory to fight again for the big green belt – thank you to everyone who is involved,” Yıldırım had asserted after the bout was official, “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.”
