BoxRec

Press Release

Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez will defend his WBC, WBA Super Middleweight titles against Avni Yidirim on Saturday February 27 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, live on DAZN in over 200 countries and territories (excluding Mexico) or on cable/satellite pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada.

Canelo (54-1-2 36 KOs) cemented himself as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the top dog in the 168lb division with a dominant win over previously unbeaten Briton Callum Smith in San Antonio, Texas in December with the WBA, vacant WBC and Ring Magazine belts on the line in front of a sold-out socially distanced crowd in the Lone Star state.

The Mexican star declared after the fight his desire to become the undisputed champion at Super-Middleweight, but before targeting the remaining belts, the four weight World ruler must deal with his dangerous WBC mandatory Yildirim at the home of the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes.

“Avni Yildirim is a good boxer and I know we will put on an exciting fight,” said Canelo. “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.”

“On February 27, we take the next step in our journey to unify the Super-Middleweight division,” said Eddy Reynoso, Sport and Talent director at Canelo Promotions and Canelo’s trainer. “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.”

Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) has been biding his time to fight for the WBC title once again, having been frustrated in his last outing when his clash for the vacant crown with Anthony Dirrell in Minnesota in February 2019, with the clash ending in a technical decision win for Dirrell after he suffered a cut over his eye.

The 29 year old challenger will be aiming to shock the world two years on from that disappointment and does so in his third fight in the States and second in Miami, having beaten the ‘Road Warrior’ Glen Johnson in August 2015, and the Turkish star returns to the Sunshine State for the biggest night of his career.

“I am honored as a mandatory to fight again for the big green belt - thank you to everyone who is involved,” said Yildirim. “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.”

Following a great night in San Antonio, Canelo teams up with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn for a two-fight deal starting with the clash with Yildirim, and Hearn is excited to develop the relationship with Canelo and his Ring Magazine trainer of the year and manager Eddy Reynoso.

“It is an absolute honor to promote the pound-for-pound number one and I’m so excited to head to Miami and the home of the Dolphins at the Hard Rock Stadium,” said Hearn. “Even in a pandemic, Saúl is looking to be more active than ever and in his plan to be undisputed he must overcome his mandatory challengers to keep his belt. Yildirim is the first of those challenges who will be attempting to dethrone the king on February 27. We look forward to a huge night of boxing on DAZN and the start of a huge year for Canelo.”

“How many fighters at this level return to the ring after two months? Canelo’s love for boxing and his fans is truly unique,” said Ed Breeze, DAZN EVP, Rights. “We’re thrilled to deliver our fifth consecutive Canelo fight to DAZN subscribers across the world.”

“We are excited to work with Canelo Alvarez, Matchroom and Eddie Hearn to bring world class boxing to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time in history with Canelo vs. Yildirim,” said Todd Boyan, Senior Vice President of Stadium Operations for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. “Canelo is one of the top athletes in the world and this live event in a socially distanced setting will be a special night for boxing fans.”

2 Canelo fights in the space of just over 69 days. £1.99 is still he value..

£6 if you kept the sub ..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Jan 2021, 07:55 2 Canelo fights in the space of just over 69 days. £1.99 is still he value..

£6 if you kept the sub ..

Glad to see the WBC making Canelo franchise champion has made him immune to rubbish mandatory defences.

Rubbish fight but glad Canelo’s active as he’s great to watch.

maverick23 wrote: ↑22 Jan 2021, 08:59

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Jan 2021, 07:55 2 Canelo fights in the space of just over 69 days. £1.99 is still he value..

£6 if you kept the sub ..

Glad to see the WBC making Canelo franchise champion has made him immune to rubbish mandatory defences.

Rubbish fight but glad Canelo’s active as he’s great to watch.

That was at Middleweight he was made Franchise.

Canelo will walk through Yildrim like he isn't even there.

It is an awful mismatch, but at least it gets his mandatory out of the way and judging by the quick turnaround it looks like he may be planning to have 3 fights this year. Which is something of a rarity at the top level.

keirw wrote: ↑22 Jan 2021, 10:36 Canelo will walk through Yildrim like he isn't even there.

It is an awful mismatch, but at least it gets his mandatory out of the way and judging by the quick turnaround it looks like he may be planning to have 3 fights this year. Which is something of a rarity at the top level.

yup

yildrim really earned the shot with that great win in his last fight

oh, wait....

It's disappointing

Surely Alverez is the one boxer in the world who is beyond alphabet titles.

He's surely hiding behind the mandatory defence situation as a reason to accept an easier fight...he didn't play the same hand when GGG was his mandatory.

Still, if he Canelo achieves 3 world title fights in 2021 that is good going to be fair.

Great to see such an active champ.

Canelo seems bent on cementing his legacy, what a career he could wind up finishing with, its already pretty impressive, even with the questionable result in the first Golovkin fight.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑22 Jan 2021, 18:20 Great to see such an active champ.

Canelo seems bent on cementing his legacy, what a career he could wind up finishing with, its already pretty impressive, even with the questionable result in the first Golovkin fight.

he's fought twice a year for nearly the last decade, he's not that active. agree on the great career though.

Yep, the last thing we want to see is a boxer with Alverez's talents sitting idle.

If there was one fight and one fight only I could pick for 2021 it's Beterbiev v Alverez

Good to keep busy. Especially if the Saunders fight is in the works, next.

Just to please WBC off this time.

How the hell is he mandatory challenger ? ,good to see Canelo again so quickly for £1.99 but terrible fight.

Having Martinez on the undercard softens the main event disappointment a bit.

i love martinez

charlie edwards dont though lol

This fight is a waste of time

Press Release | Undercard Information

Julio Cesar Martinez will defend his WBC World Flyweight title against McWilliams Arroyo as the chief support to Canelo Alvarez’s defense of his WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine World Super-Middleweight titles on Saturday February 27 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico).

Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) puts his title on the line for the third time since landing the belt in December 2019 in a thrilling stoppage win over Cristofer Rosales, outpointing Jay Harris in Dallas in February and blasting away Moises Calleros in two rounds in Mexico City in October.

The all-action Mexican is raring to finally face his mandatory challenger Arroyo after having to pull out of a proposed clash with the Puerto Rican through illness in August. It is a huge night for the all-action champion, who turns 26 on Wednesday, as he finally gets to fight as the chief support to his stablemate Alvarez, whom he also shares a trainer and manager in Eddy Reynoso, after illness ruled him out of fighting on his card in December in San Antonio.

“I am so happy to be back in the ring again and I promise you a war with Arroyo in Miami,” said Martinez. “With the unification fights ahead of me, it is important to take care of my mandatory challengers and I expect a tough fight with Arroyo. I believe that 2021 will see me unify the division and become undisputed and I can’t wait put a smile back on boxing fans faces.”

Arroyo (20-4 15 KOs) has been ready to pounce on his shot at the title and win a World strap at the third time of asking. The decorated Puerto Rican amateur was edged out via split decision by IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng in September 2014 and then fell to pound-for-pound star Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in April 2016 for the WBC and Ring Magazine crowns in California.

The 34 year old ranked at number one in the WBC enters the bout on the back of three wins in 2019 having returned to Flyweight from a brief stint at Super-Fly, and the former World Amateur Champion is determined to end the talented Mexican’s reign in Miami.

“Finally, the fight is near, and I am sure the fans will enjoy another classic between Mexico and Puerto Rico,” said Arroyo.

“This will be another great classic between Puerto Rico and Mexico,” said Arroyo’s co-promoter, Miguel Cotto. “I am sure they will provide the fans a great fight and McWilliams will be prepared to rip that title away and bring it back to Puerto Rico.”

The undercard in support of Alvarez also sees Chinese Heavyweight star Zhilei Zhang make a quick return to action over ten rounds against Jerry Forrest.

Zhang (22-0 17 KOs) is back in the sunshine state after stopping Devin Vargas in four rounds in their clash in Hollywood, Fl. in November, and the 37 year old giant will look to take another step towards securing a huge fight in the glamour division with victory over Forrest (26-4 20 KOs), who took Carlos Takam the distance in his last outing in July.

“I’m very excited about this fight,” said Zhang. “February 27 is the highest profile card of the first quarter of 2021, and it will be an honor to be part of it. I can’t wait to get in the ring and wish the best of luck to my opponent Jerry Forrest. I am training full force. I will be ready.”

“Zhang is a good fighter with great size and technique, but I’ll be ready for this fight,” said Forrest. “2021 is a new beginning for me. Covid has made training difficult with many gyms shut down, but I’ve stayed in shape since my last fight. I’m now up at my manager’s gym in Ashburn, Virginia, and my trainers have been creating a game plan while bringing in sparring partners to match Zhang’s size and style. I’m excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to ending Zhang’s unbeaten streak.”

A host of young talents get the chance to shine on the card, led by Diego Pacheco. The rangy teen has raced to 10-0 with eight wins inside the distance, and the Super-Middleweight sensation will look to add another impressive win when he takes on Rodolfo Gomez Jr (14-4-1 10KOs) over eight rounds.

“I am excited to be back under the bright lights,” said Pacheco. “2021, it’s time to show everyone I’m here and I’m a problem for anyone at 168lbs.”

Alexis Espino (6-0 4 KOs) had a frustrating end to 2020 after losing out on two fights, but the 21 year old is ready to put that behind him and get 2021 off to a flier against Ashton Sykes (5-3 KOs)

“I am more than ready to fight on this amazing card and show what I been working on aside from the time I spent away,” said Espino. “it was a frustrating time for me at the end of 2020, but I am itching to finally show how much work I have been putting into this since I haven’t been in the ring due to recent cancellations.”

Former amateur sensation Marc Castro got his pro career off to the perfect start on Canelo’s undercard in San Antonio with a KO win, and the Fresno star goes again in Miami against Lester Brown (4-2-3 1 KO).

“I am ready to get back in the ring and I want thank God and my team for making it possible for being a part of the pound-for-pound king Canelo’s undercard once again,” said Castro.

Another successful amateur making his second appearance in the paid ranks is Miami’s own Aaron Aponte. The 19 year old won via stoppage on debut in October, and Aponte will showcase the his talents on a huge platform in his hometown.

“I’m super excited to be fighting at the Hard Rock Stadium on February 27 on the undercard of boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez” said Aponte. “It’s an honor to fight on such a massive event in my hometown and I’m very grateful to Matchroom and DAZN along with my manager Peter Kahn and the Fight Game Advisors Team for this opportunity. Stay tuned for the rise of Aaron 'Alien King' Aponte!!”

“This is a stacked undercard in support of the pound-for-pound king,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Julio Cesar Martinez is fast becoming a must-see attraction in the sport and an impressive win here will take him to another level – but McWilliams Arroyo is up for the challenge and is a dangerman.

“Zhilei Zhang can stake his claim for a massive fight at Heavyweight later in the year with victory over Jerry Forrest, and it is fantastic for the young talents on the card to be able to perform on this huge stage.”

TICKETS GO ON PRE-SALE TODAY (TUESDAY JAN. 26) FROM 2 PM ET VIA TICKETMASTER AND ON GENERAL SALE FROM 2 PM ET ON WEDNESDAY JAN. 27 – TICKETS START AT $55 (PLUS FEES) – FANS CAN VISIT WWW.HARDROCKSTADIUM.COM/BOXING FOR MORE DETAILS

Alvarez-Yildirim tickets on sale

Tickets for Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez vs. Avni Yidirim on Saturday February 27th at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, are on general sale now. The event is live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico) or on cable/satellite pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada. Tickets, starting at $55, are on sale now at Ticketmaster. Alvarez (54-1-2 36 KOs) cemented himself as the top super middleweight in the world with a dominant win over previously unbeaten Briton Callum Smith in San Antonio, Texas in December with the WBA and vacant WBC belts on the line in front of a sold-out socially distanced crowd in Texas. The inactive Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) has been biding his time to fight for the WBC title once again, having been frustrated in his last outing when his clash for the vacant crown with Anthony Dirrell in Minnesota in February 2019, with the clash ending in a technical decision win for Dirrell after he suffered a cut over his eye.

The undercard in support of the main event is lead by Mexico's Julio Cesar Martinez defending his WBC World Flyweight title against mandatory challenger McWilliams Arroyo of Puerto Rico. Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) puts his title on the line for the third time since landing the belt in December 2019 in a stoppage win over Cristofer Rosales, outpointing Jay Harris in Dallas in February and blasting away Moises Calleros in two rounds in Mexico City in October. Arroyo (20-4 15 KOs) has been ready to pounce on his shot at the title and win a World strap at the third time of asking. The decorated Puerto Rican amateur was edged out via split decision by IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng in September 2014 and then fell to pound-for-pound star Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in April 2016 for the WBC and Ring Magazine crowns in California.

Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang make a quick return to action over ten rounds against Jerry Forrest, and a host of young talents get the chance to shine on the card in the form of Diego Pacheco. (10-0 8 KOs), Alexis Espino (6-0 4 KOs), Marc Castro (1-0 1 KO) and Aaron Aponte (1-0 1 KO).

Nothing really to see here

Yildirim is going to get chinned, it's almost choreographed this is...

I do like Canelo though and rate him highly

Just can't stick s**t fights

Undercard Press Release

Amateur sensation Keyshawn Davis will make his professional debut on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s defense of his WBC, WBC Super and Ring Magazine World Super-Middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim on February 27 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico).

Davis makes his hotly anticipated pro bow on the star-studded card at the home of the Miami Dolphins, as the former 2017 Golden Gloves champion and 2019 World Championship silver medalist gets the chance to show his credentials on the biggest of stages.

The Norfolk, VA. talent, who celebrates his 22nd birthday the day after his debut, starts life on the same card as old foe Marc Castro, who made his own debut on Canelo’s undercard in Texas in December, and like Castro, has the brightest of futures in the pro game.

“I am so blessed to have the opportunity to have my long-awaited pro debut featured on the Canelo undercard, thank you to the team at Matchroom,” said Davis.

“I have been working diligently my entire career for my moment on February 27. This truly feels like a dream come true. My 22nd birthday is February 28. My win against my opponent will be the best birthday gift to date.

“A special thank you to the ones that have pushed me the hardest: My brothers, Kelvin and Keon Davis, my mother, Wanda Davis, and my sisters, Shanice and Shantel Davis. Also thank you to my friends, my former teammates, my fans, and my team. Without your unwavering support over the years leading up to this moment, none of this would be possible.

“My time is NOW. I am who and what they have been waiting for.”

“I’m delighted to have such a special talent in Keyshawn Davis make his pro debut on the Canelo card,’ said Eddie Hearn. “Keyshawn is one of the hottest young fighters in the States and is bound to be a big hit in the pro ranks – Davis has the world at his feet and it’s great for him to start his journey on the undercard of the pound-for-pound king, Canelo.”

Davis makes his introduction to the professional ranks on a stellar bill in Miami, topped by Canelo’s clash with mandatory challenger Yildirim.

Julio Cesar Martinez defending his WBC World Flyweight title against mandatory challenger McWilliams Arroyo, Chinese Heavyweight star Zhilei Zhang faces Jerry Forrest over ten rounds, and a host of young talents get the chance to shine on the card in the form of Diego Pacheco, Alexis Espino, Marc Castro and Aaron Aponte.

TICKETS ARE ON GENERAL SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER – TICKETS START AT $55 (PLUS FEES) – FANS CAN VISIT HARDROCKSTADIUM.COM FOR MORE DETAILS

Keyshawn is meant to be awesome so will be interesting to see how he gets on. Strange that he’s fighting on the show but hasn’t seemingly signed a deal with a promoter.