Canelo Álvarez defends super middleweight titles after Avni Yıldırım retired on a stool, as it happened | Sport

That’s it for tonight. Thanks, as always, for sticking with us and be sure to check out the full report from tonight’s fight here.

Canelo has won recognized world titles in all divisions from 154 pounds to 175 pounds, but has been obsessed with unifying the four major title belts at 168 pounds. When asked why, he cuts to the chase: “It’s because it hasn’t been done. In Latin America no one has. And in the world, only a few, only the best. And I want to make history, I want to be one of the best in the world ”.

When asked if he thinks he can match or surpass Julio César Chávez as the best Mexican fighter at any weight, Álvarez says he wants to forge his own path.

“I want to make my own story,” he says. “I don’t want to be equal to anyone. I want to make my own story and when they talk about boxing they always remember: Canelo. I respect everyone in history, but I want to make my own story and I respect everyone ”.

“I needed the knockout and that’s what I did,” Alvarez says in Spanish through a translator. “It doesn’t matter if they are taller or have more reach, if they have a good coach or not a good coach. It does not matter. I come here to do my job. I come to win. I come to make history ”.

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Alvarez, chimes in during his fighter’s in-ring interview to reveal boxing’s worst kept secret: Canelo will fight undefeated WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders on May 8 at a location to be announced shortly.

A defeated Avni Yıldırım didn’t even give his coach a chance to carry out his threat, failing to answer the bell for the fourth round. The referee stops the fight and Canelo Alvarez officially retains his WBA and WBC super middleweight titles by a third round TKO.

Alvarez is eliminating the challenger with body shots, one after another. Y Canelo lands a combo from left to right up and down goes Yıldırım! He quickly stands up and tries to laugh, but he’s in trouble with more than half the round left to play! Yıldırım is in full retreat as Canelo moves patiently to try and close the show. After the bell, Yıldırım’s coach yells in charge: “I’m going to stop the fight! I’m giving you one more fucking round! “

Guardian Unofficial Score: Alvarez 30-26 Yildirim (Alvarez 10-8 Yildirim)

Round 2

Canelo lands a left uppercut that drives the crowd into a frenzy. Yıldırım is still off pitch and presents a stationary target for the champion, who is opening more and putting up more combo punches in the first minute of the second round. A devastating left hand lands on the liver. And other. Now to the right of the midsection, far below Yıldırım’s tall shell. A polite combination of Alvarez’s left hook and uppercut that belongs in a museum. It’s not immediately apparent what the challenger’s strategy is, because so far it has been little more than target practice.

Unofficial Guardian Score: Alvarez 20-18 Yildirim (Alvarez 10-9 Yildirim)

Round 1

Yıldırım tried to touch the gloves after the opening bell, but Canelo did not allow it. One opening minute measured for both fighters as they sit down for each other as they circle in the center of the ring. Canelo is landing the occasional shot under Yıldırım’s guard in the ribs. Yıldırım has not achieved anything in the first two minutes. Canelo opened up a bit more to the midsection, setting him up with the uppercut to Yıldırım’s high guard, while still more radio silence from the challenger. An unusually slow start for Yıldırım, who has been known for his aggressive starts in the past. An easy lap for Álvarez and he didn’t have to do much to set it.

Unofficial Guardian Score: Alvarez 10-9 Yildirim (Alvarez 10-9 Yildirim)

A team of cleaners in full hazmat suits has finished their job of disinfecting the ring and Michael Buffer is at the microphone for the announcements. The national anthems of Turkey, Mexico and the United States follow and finally the wrestlers are making their entrances. Here comes the Turkish challenger, dressed in a white robe with red trim and pounding his heart with his right fist as he salutes the crowd.

And now it’s Canelo’s turn. The overwhelming crowd favorite (and the stakes) makes his way into the squared circle as the full performance of South American reggaeton superstar J Balvin unfolds on stage. That is what is known in the business as flex.

Canelo’s unanimous decision victory over Callum Smith in December ended a 13-month dormant periodBut the 30-year-old from Guadalajara plans to maintain a much busier schedule in 2021. He is expected to have already booked a unification fight on May 8 with WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders. His promoter Eddie Hearn just hinted at it on the broadcast, saying the announcement could come as soon as tonight.

“There has been talk, but there is nothing concrete,” said Álvarez, who was inactive for most of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a contract dispute. “I want to go through this challenge first and then explore what’s next. But yes, we have had preliminary conversations.

“I want to stay active. I enjoy what I do and I exercise in the gym. Fighting is my life. If all goes well, we would like four fights this year. “

Hello and welcome to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for tonight’s super middleweight championship fight between Canelo Álvarez and Avni Yıldırım. It’s the second outing in 70 days for Alvarez, boxing’s biggest star, who just won a single point over Britain’s Callum Smith to win the WBA and Ring super middleweight championships and the vacant super middleweight title. of the WBC.

Yıldırım (21-2, 12 KOs) is not expected to offer much resistance. The 29-year-old Turk, who hasn’t boxed since a technical decision loss to Anthony Dirrell two years ago, is turning out to be a 15-1 underdog and is only here because he’s Alvarez’s mandatory challenger to the WBC title.

For Álvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs), there is a lot of risk and little reward until he can move toward his goal of unifying the belts at 168 pounds against the other two division champions: Briton Billy Joe Saunders, owner of the OMB. title, and Caleb Plant, the undefeated American who has the IBF strap.

“I respect all the fighters and the challenge that I have in front of me,” Alvarez said this week. “I know what Yildirim brings. He is a strong fighter with a great desire to win. I come with the same mentality of winning, doing my job and continuing to make history. “

McWilliams Arroyo just stopped late replacement Abraham Rodriguez in the fifth round to win the interim WBC flyweight title in the final fight of the night’s undercard, which means that Álvarez and Yıldırım should be making their walks around the ring. soon.