Sources: Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim set for Feb. 27 in Miami

ByCAMERON WOLFE
January 20, 2021, 3:39 PM

Boxing's biggest star Canelo Alvarez will return to the ring February 27 versus his mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in Miami Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium, per sources. The fight will be broadcasted on DAZN and other PPV cable platforms everywhere except Mexico.

It will be a stay-busy title defense for Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs), who is coming off a dominant unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated champion Callum Smith on December 19 to win the WBA, WBC and the Ring magazine super middleweight titles.

The Athletic was the first to report the Alvarez fight date.

"Canelo is in the gym, and he has been working and training, waiting for the date," Alvarez's trainer Eddy Reynoso said. "And to take advantage of the preparation we had for most of last year without fighting."

After a deal with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, Alvarez is on track to fight again on May 8, the weekend following Cinco De Mayo, against WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders. That bout is not official yet, but it is expected, with IBF champion Caleb Plant as a secondary option.

Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) has plans to unify the super middleweight division with Saunders and Plant as the two other beltholders in the division.

Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) hasn't fought since a Feb. 2019 split technical decision loss to Anthony Dirrell. He has been Alvarez's WBC mandatory challenger since before the Alvarez-Smith bout. Alvarez and Reynoso wanted to fulfill their commitment to the WBC by fighting Yildirim before continuing their pursuit through the super middleweight champions.

"Yildrim is a strong fighter. He is a fighter who has earned his place in boxing to get to where he is as the No. 1 challenger in the world," Reynoso said. "He had a fight against Anthony Dirrell, which seemed to me they took away from him, and gave it to Dirrell due to a cut. It was a world title fight and [even with a loss] he became an official challenger. He is a guy who has worked honestly to be there and he is dangerous, strong, has a good punch and very reliable."

This will be Alvarez's first bout in Miami, a place he has long enjoyed. Tickets will be sold so fans can be in attendance up to the covid-19 pandemic capacity allowed at Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes play their home football games.