Canelo-Yildirim WBC Super Middleweight Title Fight Heads To Sept. 21 Purse Bid

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo-Yildirim WBC Super Middleweight Title Fight Heads To Sept. 21 Purse Bid

Should present plans hold form, there is a great chance that boxing will forever remember the 21st day of September.

With the allotted negotiation period expiring without a deal in place, an ordered super middleweight title fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Avni Yildirim will now head to a purse bid hearing. The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered the fight on August 18, after the Board of Governors approved by a vote of 36-1 to allow Alvarez to challenge for the available title.

A world of issues have since surfaced, perhaps even including what lies ahead in regards to this fight.

“The purse bid is scheduled for September 21,” Mauricio Sulaiman, longtime and recently re-elected president of the WBC confirmed to BS.com of the news first reported by Sky Sports.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36KOs) was positioned into contention for the vacant title due to his status as WBC “Franchise” champion, which he was awarded last summer in a new development by the Mexico City-based sanctioning body. The belt in question became available on August 15, shortly after David Benavidez scored a one-sided 10th round stoppage of Alexis Angulo in what was downgraded to a non-title fight due to his missing weight by more than three pounds.

Had Benavidez—now a former two-time titleholder—done his job at the scale, his next assignment would have been a mandatory title defense versus Istanbul, Turkey’s Yildirim (21-2, 12KOs). Plans for Yildirim to once again challenge for the title have been in place since 2019, when he was named as the challenger in waiting for Benavidez’s eventual title-regaining 9th round stoppage of Anthony Dirrell last September.

Efforts to schedule such a fight for earlier this year were thwarted when Yildirim suffered a training camp injury, providing a path for Benavidez to enter a voluntary defense versus Angulo which was to have taken place this past April in his Phoenix hometown. The event was canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the bout rescheduled for this past August and Yildirim eagerly awaiting the winner.

Instead, he now has the chance to face the biggest star in the sport—if current legal issues don’t get in the way.

At the moment, it’s a very big “if.”

Guadalajara’s Alvarez—the three-division titlist and reigning lineal middleweight king—is currently embroiled in a massive lawsuit with Golden Boy Promotions, company founder and chairman Oscar de la Hoya and over-the-top (OTT) media service DAZN. The lawsuit was filed this past Tuesday, with Alvarez claiming damages of at least $280 million—the remaining balance on his record-breaking contract with DAZN.

Even before the lawsuit, DAZN had no intention of greenlighting a fight between Alvarez and Yildirim, and in fact has become particular in approving far more notable competition for the global superstar.

Nevertheless, the WBC has a process to follow and for Yildirim there will exist the opportunity to challenge for the title, no matter whom against.

“We have nothing to do with the legal case,” Ahmet Oner, Yildirim’s promote told Boxing Scene. “We have a purse bid on Sept 21 and we will see what happens.”

Yildirim has been in contention for the title since a controversial technical decision defeat to Dirrell last February. The fight ended due to a massive cut suffered by Dirrell in the 7th round of their Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FS1 main event, with the bout stopped three rounds later.

The WBC ruled at the time that Dirrell would first face Benavidez, at the time a former titlist who was permitted to once again challenge for his belt upon returning from a suspension after testing positive for cocaine in September 2018. Yildirim was awarded the right to challenge the winner, or in this case challenge for the title itself.

This particular ordered fight perhaps doesn’t move the needle for the brass at DAZN, but the prospects of promoting an Alvarez-headlined event certainly serves as an attractive option to potential bidders. The legal ramifications to follow will ultimately dictate whether or not it could proceed in present form, assuming Alvarez still goes through with the fight by that point as he has yet to withdraw his name from consideration.

The forthcoming purse bid hearing will be held virtually via Zoom conference call, in lieu of traveling to WBC headquarters in Mexico City given the ongoing global health crisis.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBC don't read the news?

They're so desperate.

Thing with purse bids is... anyone can bid right?

When was the last time Canelo was fought over via a purse bid?

[Boxing Prospect]

Wouldn't the fight be able to take place anywhere based on the Ali act? (Sure there's something about broadcasters not being able to stand in the way of mandatory title fights).

Be funny if a promoter wins the rights cheaply then sells the rights to DAZN for a small profit, but we'll under the $35m

[Enlightened-One]

It's a strange move by the WBC.

They're obviously desperate to receive Canelo-sized sanctioning fees, to the point they've forgotten about him being a little preoccupied dealing with legal issues.

Canelo isn't going to compete anytime soon, unless DAZN and GBP cave in to his demands.

[Onetimeonly]

Wouldn't the fight be able to take place anywhere based on the Ali act? (Sure there's something about broadcasters not being able to stand in the way of mandatory title fights).

Be funny if a promoter wins the rights cheaply then sells the rights to DAZN for a small profit, but we'll under the $35m

But canelo doesn't have to compete. Amusing as that scenario is, gotta think canelos dazn contract supersedes them purchasing a purse bid bout.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo vs Yildirim purse bid could see bid from Premier Boxing Champions

It goes without saying that Canelo Alvarez has a lot going on right now. He’s filed suit against DAZN, Golden Boy Promotions, and Oscar De La Hoya, alleging a breach in contract and seeking $280 million in damages. He’s also got a purse bid scheduled for Sept. 21, as the WBC had previously ordered him to face Avni Yildirim for their vacant super middleweight title.

It’s that last part that may soon get intriguing as far as the 30-year-old Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KO) goes, at least if you put stock in a report from Sky Sports that suggests Premier Boxing Champions may be ready to put in a real bid for the Canelo-Yildirim fight.

Yildirim’s promoter Ahmet Oner tells Sky that PBC “could” make a “sizable offer” on the fight, and says he’s definitely hoping that Yildirim (21-2, 12 KO) gets a potentially life-changing chance against the Mexican superstar:

“Canelo is a big chance for us, so I let things go smooth. Let him resolve his issues, if it’s possible. We’ll be happy if it’s Canelo, and if it’s then decided that Canelo will not fight, then I speak to my partners PBC. We have a contract with them and we have an agreement, so we’ll speak to PBC and the president Mauricio Sulaiman. I am still hopeful for Canelo.”

Alvarez obviously has a lot to resolve, and probably not much time to do it. The idea that he might get a pass to fight Yildirim any time soon while he has a massive lawsuit against his promoters and the streaming platform that gave him a record contract seems like wishful thinking at best; not impossible, perhaps, but surely unlikely. In all reality, Canelo making the lawsuit move might well keep him out of the ring for a long time, despite his desire to get back in the ring being the stated reason for filing in the first place. Unless DAZN and/or Golden Boy are willing to just cut ties and come to some sort of possible settlement, it’s hard to see Canelo gloving up in the near future, with or without a WBC purse bid in 10 days.

But even the idea that PBC could potentially, if indirectly, show an interest in Canelo is intriguing. If or when Canelo gets free from his DAZN contract and/or his promoters — with whom he’s had no love lost for some time now, by all accounts — then he’ll have to link up with someone, and there’s not a promotional outfit on the planet that wouldn’t want him, from PBC to Top Rank or anyone else you can think of, though those would be the two likely serious players, what with another potential suitor, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, being so closely tied to DAZN (at least for now). He instantly and greatly enhances the brand power for anyone.

[Enlightened-One]

It’s interesting the article mentions Eddie Hearn, I’m curious to understand his take on the Canelo-GBP-DAZN situation, coupled with the lack of events Matchroom US and Golden Boy scheduled for DAZN?

The outspoken British promoter has remained rather tight-lipped recently, which is unusual for him.

And Sky's head of boxing, Adam Smith was reluctant to discuss the situation when interviewed by iFL TV, with Sky being one of DAZN's boxing content providers.

Anyway, Canelo isn't facing Yildirim. It won't happen... ever.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It’s interesting the article mentions Eddie Hearn, I’m curious to understand his take on the Canelo-GBP-DAZN situation, coupled with the lack of events Matchroom US and Golden Boy scheduled for DAZN?

The outspoken British promoter has remained rather tight-lipped recently, which is unusual for him.

Maybe he will speak about it on his next IFL interview.

[Enlightened-One]

It’s interesting the article mentions Eddie Hearn, I’m curious to understand his take on the Canelo-GBP-DAZN situation, coupled with the lack of events Matchroom US and Golden Boy scheduled for DAZN?

The outspoken British promoter has remained rather tight-lipped recently, which is unusual for him.

Maybe he will speak about it on his next IFL interview.

I hope so.

Eddie Hearn’s $1 billion deal with DAZN apparently commits Matchroom US to promote 16 shows per year, with that streaming service providing an average budget of $7.3m per show.

And apart from the rumour mill, Matchroom US doesn’t actually have any US-based events scheduled yet.

I’m sure a couple will be announced in the near future, but the lack of shows must concern Hearn.

I bet Eddie would have loved to add Canelo to his stable, but he won't even be considered, which must be frustrating for him.

[Enlightened-One]

[Betro09]

Yıldırım always stated he will face Canelo one day, respect that it is close now.

But if i were him, i’d want a Dirrell rematch, there is some unfinished business. Dirrell made some real racist comments after his technical stoppage win against Yıldırım - thats why they need to settle score.

[Tevfik1907]

Yıldırım always stated he will face Canelo one day, respect that it is close now.

But if i were him, i’d want a Dirrell rematch, there is some unfinished business. Dirrell made some real racist comments after his technical stoppage win against Yıldırım - thats why they need to settle score.

Didn't see that, what did he say?

[Betro09]

Yıldırım always stated he will face Canelo one day, respect that it is close now.

But if i were him, i’d want a Dirrell rematch, there is some unfinished business. Dirrell made some real racist comments after his technical stoppage win against Yıldırım - thats why they need to settle score.

Go back to your country, this belt stays American and some slung words i can’t remember.

Didn't see that, what did he say?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo vs. Yildirim WBC Purse Bid Postponed To October 6

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Avni Yildirim have two more weeks to discuss a fight which nobody seems to want.

The two boxers are in contention for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight title, with such a fight heading to a purse bid hearing to determine promotional rights for the contest. The session was due to take place September 21, only for the Mexico City-based sanctioning body to push back the date to October 6.

“The WBC is officially confirming the postponement of the purse offer ceremony for the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Avni Yildirim fight for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight championship,” confirmed the WBC in a statement on Sunday evening. “The new date has been set for Tuesday October 6 and will be conducted on an open video conference.”

The bout was officially ordered on August 18, following approval from the WBC Board of Governors who voted 36-1 in favor of Guadalajara’s Alvarez (53-1-2, 36KOs) being permitted to challenge for the now-vacant title. The ruling came four days after the belt’s previous claimant, David Benavidez was stripped of his title status for missing weight on August 14, one day prior to stopping Alexis Angulo in 10 one-sided rounds.

Istanbul’s Yildirim (21-2, 12KOs) was due a mandatory title shot heading into the night, expecting to face Benavidez later this year. Instead, he was ordered to enter talks with Alvarez, who was permitted a place in line due to his status as WBC “Franchise” champion which was bestowed upon him last June.

Negotiations never evolved past preliminary discussion by the time the deadline arrived, prompting the WBC to call for a purse bid hearing.

In that time, Alvarez—who has claimed championships at 154-, 160- and 175-pounds—has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit versus Golden Boy Promotions, company founder and chairman Oscar de la Hoya and sports-streaming service DAZN-USA. The case was conditionally rejected though with room for an amended filing with a September 28 deadline.

Alvarez is claiming damages in excess of $280 million—the remaining amount of the existing contract between Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN-USA for his in-ring services as part of an 11-fight, $365 million pact signed in October 2018.

Needless to say, any fight involving the global superstar is problematic for the time being.

Prior to the lawsuit, DAZN-USA was adamant in its disinterest in financing a fight between Alvarez and Yildirim. That stance could change, especially considering some of the bouts they plan to greenlight in the coming months. Of course, it would also require some form of resolution between Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions, the latter whom for the time being remains his promoter of record.

Alvarez has not fought since an 11th round knockout of Sergey Kovalev to claim the WBO light heavyweight title last November in Las Vegas. His reign lasted all of 45 days, vacating the title upon his quest to capture a genuine title at super middleweight—having won a secondary version in a 3rd round knockout of Rocky Fielding in December 2018.

Yildirim has been out of the ring since a technical decision loss to Anthony Dirrell in their vacant WBC super middleweight title fight last February. The disputed nature in which the fight ended warranted a rematch, only for the WBC to permit Dirrell to first face Benavidez who was already owed a shot at regaining the title he relinquished after testing positive for cocaine in September 2018.

Benavidez stopped Dirrell in the 9th round of their title fight last September, with Yildirim due a shot at the winner. Plans for a Benavidez-Yilidirim clash earlier this year fell through when Yildirim suffered an elbow injury. Benavidez was granted an optional title defense versus Angulo which was scheduled to take place in his Phoenix hometown this past April, only for the event to get shut down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The bout was rescheduled for August 15, only for Benavidez to miss weight by more than three pounds, thus the title becoming available.

Should the ordered Alvarez-Yildirim title fight make it to a purse bid, it will be made available to the highest bidder in a session which will be held via Zoom conference call.

[Enlightened-One]

The WBC are so desperate for Canelo to pay them another hefty sanctioning fee, they’ve resorted to organising their deadlines around the Mexican’s GBP & DAZN lawsuit.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yildirim's Promoter Hopes Canelo Alvarez Deal Gets Done

Ahmet Oner, promoter for Avni Yildirim, is hoping a deal is reached for a world title showdown with Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

The WBC ordered both boxer to fight for the vacant super middleweight world title.

The belt became vacant when David Benavidez failed to make weight for his last defense against Roamer Angulo. Because Benavidez stopped Angulo in the fight, the title remained vacant.

As Boxing Scene previously reported, a planned purse bid for Canelo vs. Yildirim has been postponed to October 6.

Oner believes there is real interest by Canelo to do the fight, because his team requested the postponement of the purse bid.

"Yes , because of the postponement. Why should anybody ask for a postponement, if there would be no interest, in my opinion. October 6th we will know definitely more and for my side, I hope it comes through," Oner told Sky Sports.

Premier Boxing Champions is planning to bid on Yildirim's behalf - against Canelo or whoever turns up in the other corner.

At the moment Canelo is involved in a legal battle with his own promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.

"We are happy with our position that we are the mandatory challenger, and if it's Canelo, it's great," said Oner.

"If it's a different opponent, then we will see. We'll go from there, but right now, I don't know who is fighting us for the vacant title. Canelo is a big chance for us, so I let things go smooth. Let him resolve his issues, if it's possible.

"We'll be happy if it's Canelo, and if it's then decided that Canelo will not fight, then I speak to my partners PBC. We have a contract with them and we have an agreement, so we'll speak to PBC and the [WBC] president Mauricio Sulaiman. I am still hopeful for Canelo."

[apollo creed]

I wonder what is Canelo's opinion about this title fight? He is ok with it as he is considered the 'face of boxing'?

[Enlightened-One]

He is ok with it as he is considered the 'face of boxing'?

Is that a question or an assumption or has Canelo personally told you this?

[squiggy]

I'd probably go ahead and assume it's a question, as it ends with a question mark.

[Enlightened-One]

I'd probably go ahead and assume it's a question, as it ends with a question mark.

I kind of get that, but the sentence read as if it was an assertion rather than a question.

Who knows? One of life’s many mysteries.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo vs. Yildirim Purse Bid Given Final 15-Day Extension

Another two weeks have been granted for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Avni Yildirim to further discuss their long-ago ordered title fight.

The World Boxing Council (WBC) announced on Tuesday that a second scheduled purse bid hearing has been delayed, on a day when the situation was expected to reach resolution.

“Understanding the current situation of WBC Franchise champion, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, The WBC in good faith extends 15 days and for a final time the purse offer ceremony for the Alvarez vs Yildirim fight, for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title,” declared the sanctioning body via statement.

Guadalajara’s Alvarez (53-1-2, 36KOs) and Istanbul’s Yildirim (21-2, 12KOs) were expected to see their ordered vacant super middleweight title fight up for bid via Zoom conference call on Tuesday. Instead, the same courtesy was granted as was the case on September 21, essentially with the same exact ruling handed down on that date as well.

The fight was first ordered on August 18, immediately following a judgement from the WBC Board of Governors in near-unanimous fashion to approve a request for Alvarez to fight for its 168-pound title. The order came four days after unbeaten David Benavidez (23-0, 20KOs) was stripped of the belt for a second time, on this occasion for blowing weight ahead of his eventual 10th round knockout of Alexis Angulo on August 15 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Benavidez began his first title reign in September 2017 with a tightly contested points win over Ronald Gavril. Their rematch five months later proved far more dominant for the unbeaten Benavidez, who was stripped of the belt in September 2018 after testing positive for cocaine during random drug testing through the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program.

Once year later came the start of Benavidez’s second reign, scoring a 9th round injury stoppage of Anthony Dirrell last September. The bout took place with the understanding that the winner would be mandated to next face Yildirim, who suffered a controversial technical decision defeat to Dirrell last February.

Plans for a Benavidez-Yildirim clash were stalled earlier this year due to Yildirim suffering an injury, thus delaying his second shot at the title. Benavidez was granted a voluntary defense, with his bout versus Angulo originally scheduled to take place this past April in his Phoenix hometown. The event was postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, rescheduled for August but with Benavidez coming in more than three pounds heavy for the occasion and thus leaving his title at the scale.

Along came Alvarez—who last June was awarded “WBC Franchise” champion status—to jump in and inquire about filling the sudden vacancy. Complicating matters, however, is the Mexican icon’s current status with estranged promoter Oscar de la Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions.

Alvarez filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against de la Hoya, Golden Boy and sports streaming service DAZN in early September. The original case was dismissed by the federal court in which it was submitted, with room to amend. Alvarez’s legal team made the necessary legal adjustments but filed a new case in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles on September 29.

Alvarez is claiming damages of at least $280 million—the remaining amount of the existing contract between Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN-USA for his in-ring services as part of an 11-fight, $365 million pact signed in October 2018. The terms of the case currently complicate any plans for the global superstar to appear in the ring, although included among his legal team’s actions—both in the lawsuit and in a separate letter submitted to DAZN—is an avenue to allow Alvarez to fight external to the terms of his current contract.

All told, the situation is a giant mess for all parties involved and undoubtedly placing a strain on this ordered title fight, which was never particularly appealing to potential buyers even without the legal ramifications.

Nevertheless, the WBC is clearly willing to wait it out. An additional 15 days would place a new purse bid hearing on October 21, although the matter appears to be open-ended at the moment.

“The WBC will inquire the definite status in this period and in order to make a final determination and ruling on the division,” noted the sanctioning body.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The WBC can't be serious!!

[Enlightened-One]

The WBC can't be serious!!

The WBC are clearly desperate to receive another Canelo-sized sanctioning fee.

But to be fair, if the WBC allowed Yildrim to face their highest-ranked contender, they’d be granting David Benavidez a third opportunity to reclaim ownership of a title they’ve had to strip him twice of (due to failing to make weight and testing positive for recreational drugs).

And Benavidez was only stripped of this WBC title a couple of months ago, when he missed weight by an astonishing 2.8lbs margin. It wouldn’t be a punishment if he was granted another title shot so soon.

David Lemieux is the next highest-ranked title challenger, but he’s tied up facing a journeyman.

Anthony Dirrell is next in the pecking order, but he hasn’t fought since he failed to claim David Benavidez’s WBC title. So he doesn’t deserve another shot either.

And to be honest, I’m not a fan of governing bodies allowing champions from other organisations challenging for their vacant titles. So I’d hate to see Callum Smith face Yildrim, even though that’s precisely what I think will happen, due to the money Matchroom is able to offer Mauricio Sulamain.