Report: Canelo Alvarez vs. Avni Yildirim Planned For Feb. 27

Canelo Alvarez’s next fight is already being planned.

Alvarez, the newly-minted WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring Super-Middleweight Champion, is expected to share the ring with Avni Yildirim next. Yildirim is the mandatory WBC challenger. Canelo was given 90 days to put his WBC gold on the line against Yildirim following the win over Callum Smith.

Canelo’s manager Eddy Reynoso broke the news of plans for Canelo vs. Yildirim to Boxing Scene. The bout is likely to take place on February 27 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

“Yildirim is the next opponent for Canelo due to the WBC mandatory protocol. Yildirim is a very good fighter and is willing to fight the best. If Yildirim is able to do it, we’re willing to do it too. Why not?”

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman had told reporters that Canelo has long been eyeing a bout in his home country.

“He has wanted to fight in Mexico for a long time. He’s a tremendous, important icon for the country. He’s the best fighter in the world. He represents so much for Mexico, and he wants to give a great moment of happiness to the country.”

Canelo hasn’t competed in Mexico since November 26, 2011. It was a successful WBC Light-Middleweight Title defense over Kermit Cintron. Canelo scored the fifth-round TKO finish.

Yildirim hasn’t competed since February 2019. He dropped a technical decision to Anthony Dirrell. The bout was contested for the vacant WBC Super-Middleweight Title. That means if he ultimately faces Canelo, this will be Yildirim’s second-straight WBC Title fight.