Boxing fans needed to wait over a year for Canelo Alvarez to return to the ring, but they will be set for a welcome piece of news over the coming days, as an agreement looks to be close between Alvarez and his mandatory challenger.
It has been rumoured that Alvarez will agree to the WBA, WBC and The Ring title defence against Avni Yildirim, and the fight could happen as soon as the 27th February. That will mean that fight fans will be able to be dazzled by Alvarez’s ability for the second time in three months if the date is agreed.
Boxing News: Agreement Close
Alvarez didn’t look as though he had missed a step when he returned to the ring at the end of December against Callum Smith. All of his super middleweight titles were in the line on that night in San Antonio, but Alvarez put on a clinic that was enjoyed by millions around the world. He won by unanimous decision after the 12 rounds, which improved his professional record to 54 wins in 57 fights.
The only defeat that he has suffered throughout his career was the bout against Floyd Mayweather in September 2013. However, his opponent in February has already been praised by Eddy Reynoso. Yildirim has enjoyed an excellent record as a professional so far, as he has won 21 of his 23 fights. His most recent fight came 12 months ago, as he was beaten by technical decision after a clash of heads with Anthony Dirrell. The only other defeat that he has suffered came against Chris Eubank Jr in 2017.
Boxing News: Alvarez Has Future Plans
The fight against the Turkish mandatory isn’t the only one that Alvarez has on his radar for 2021, as it has been reported that the 30-year-old could already be targeting Billy Joe Saunders later in the year. The fight with Yildirim was a requirement for Alvarez by the WBC, as they gave the reigning champion 90 days to come to an agreement for the fight.
However, Alvarez already has his sights set on a potential huge unification bout with Saunders, who currently holds the WBO championship. The 31-year-old and Alvarez are close on terms for the deal, which could see the unification fight take place in the United States. Saunders has a perfect record as a professional, as he has won all 30 of his previous fights. His last win came against Martin Murray, as he won by unanimous decision in December 2020.
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