Boxing match
Canelo Álvarez vs. Avni Yıldırım was a professional boxing match contested on 27 February 2021, for the WBA, WBC and The Ring super middleweight championship.[1]
Background
After his 19 December 2020 victory over Callum Smith to win the unified super middleweight championship, it was announced on 20 January 2021 that Álvarez would be defending his newly won super middleweight titles against his WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yıldırım on 27 February at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.[2] The bout attracted criticism due to many perceiving Yıldırım, who had not been in the ring since he lost a technical split decision to Anthony Dirrell two years prior in February 2019, to be vastly over-matched. Yıldırım had been named to the mandatory position as a result of the controversial nature of his loss to Dirrell, however, he had remained sidelined due to injury and the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Álvarez, who was mandated to face Yıldırım in order to retain the WBC title despite being heavily favored, was dismissive of the critics, saying "I really don't have to give any explanation because they're never gonna be happy with anything... He [Yıldırım] has lots of courage. He can be dangerous at any moment because he is a strong fighter."[4] Yıldırım's only other loss on his record had come four years earlier against Chris Eubank Jr. in October 2017.
Álvarez was a 50 to 1 on favourite to win.[5][6]
The fight
The bout would prove to be as one sided as many had predicted. Álvarez would dominate the bout before Yıldırım's corner threw in the towel at the end of the third round. According to CompuBox stats, Álvarez outlanded Yıldırım 67 (40%) to 11 (11%) in total punches.[7]
Aftermath
Álvarez later stated that he had contracted COVID-19 prior to the fight and only had one month to train.[8]
Undercard
Confirmed bouts:[9][10]
| Winner |
Loser |
Weight division/title belt(s) disputed |
Result
|
 McWilliams Arroyo
|
 Abraham Rodriguez
|
WBC Interim World Flyweight title
|
5th round TKO
|
 Zhilei Zhang
|
 Jerry Forrest
|
Heavyweight (10 rounds)
|
Majority draw
|
| Diego Pacheco
|
Rodolfo Gomez Jr
|
Super middleweight (8 rounds)
|
Unanimous decision
|
| Marc Castro
|
John Moraga
|
Super featherweight (4 rounds)
|
2nd round TKO
|
| Preliminary bouts
|
| Keyshawn Davis
|
 Lester Brown
|
Lightweight (4 rounds)
|
2nd round TKO
|
| Aaron Aponte
|
Harry Gigliotti
|
Super lightweight (4 rounds)
|
Unanimous decision
|
| Alexis Espino
|
Ashton Sykes
|
Super middleweight (6 rounds)
|
5th round KO
|
Broadcasting
References
