It’s official.
Canelo Alvarez has announced that he will defend his super middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim on Feb. 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the home of the Miami Dolphins.
The fight will be streamed on DAZN.
Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) has said his goal is to unify the 168-pound titles but he must get past Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) first.
“Avni Yildirim is a good boxer, and I know we will put on an exciting fight,” said Alvarez, who won two belts when he easily outpointed Callum Smith on Dec. 19. “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.”
Said Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s manager and trainer: “On February 27, we take the next step in our journey to unify the Super-Middleweight division. We will be facing our WBC mandatory opponent, Avni Yildirim.
“We are very happy with the alliance we have with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom to put on this bout together, especially in a new venue for us.”
Alvarez will be fighting in Miami for the second time. He stopped Raul Pinzon in a welterweight bout there in 2008.
Yildirim will have been out of the ring for two years when he fights Alvarez. He last fought in February 2019, when he lost a 10-round technical decision to Anthony Dirrell.
The WBC’s No. 2 contender, from Turkey, understands the opportunity he will have on Feb. 27.
“I am honored as a mandatory to fight again for the big green belt. Thank you to everyone who is involved,” he 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 of Turkey.”