Canelo Alvarez hopes to turn Miami into another home base for his fights as he prepares to defend his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles against mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim on Saturday night (February 27) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, live worldwide on DAZN and on TV Azteca in Mexico.
Canelo (54-1-2 36 KOs) is swiftly back in action after dominating Callum Smith in San Antonio, Texas in December to land the titles he defends against Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs) this weekend.
He must see off the challenge of the Turk if he’s to build towards becoming the first undisputed champion at 168lbs, but the fight also sees the 30-year-old four-weight champion in Florida for the first time as a world champion.
Canelo’s only fight in the Sunshine State was in December 2008 where he put Raul Pinzon to the sword inside a round in his 24th pro fight, and he hopes that Saturday night’s blockbuster event can be the first of many in Miami.
“I feel very motivated to be in Miami and have this fight,” said Canelo. “And to put on a great show for the people there because I don’t just represent Mexico, I represent all Latinos.
“I like everything about Miami and I am very happy to be here, it is an honor to fight at Hard Rock Stadium. I feel very excited, very happy, it’s even more motivation for me. To open another door in order to have another home for my fights. I really feel very happy.
“They only let us put 15,000 people in because of the pandemic, but with that we are fine. Last time in San Antonio it was around 12,000 and the stadium sounded like it was full. Let’s hope that normalcy will arrive soon, and the stadium can be filled, but with 15,000 I feel very good, and if there were 1,000 it would be the same, the support of the people is incredible, and I feel very grateful.
“You do feel the vibe of the fans when they are yelling and that motivates you much more, but you have to get into your head that in the end you are the only one up in the ring. I always prepare 100 percent.”
Canelo’s clash with Yildirim is part of huge night of action at the home of the Miami Dolphins.
Julio Cesar Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) provides the chief support as he defends his WBC World Flyweight title against mandatory challenger McWilliams Arroyo (20-4 15 KOs) while Chinese Heavyweight star Zhilei Zhang (22-0 17 KOs) faces Jerry Forrest (26-4 20 KOs) over ten rounds.
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).
It would be better if he also brought a must-see match-up
Canelo is probably getting 20-30 plus million for this fight but nowhere on line says how much Avni Yildirim is getting for this fight?
I will simply watch the highlights off YouTube. No desire to see this match up in full. Way too predictable in my opinion. Until I see a high-risk legit opponent fight Canelo, I will simply stay in the “highlights” section of the spotlight. To each his own…
Hey Scoobs, don’t u think Callum Smith was a high risk opponent? I mean, jus a year ago alot of people on here were bashing Canelo saying he was avoiding smith. Just asking for a friend 🙂
Yes, you are right. Smith was a good opponent for Canelo. Excellent point. In addition, I know Kovalev was on his down slide when he fought Canelo, but that match up was decent.
The act of frustration [in my eyes] with Canelo for the longest time was due to Oscar treating Alvarez like a protected money-maker investment rather than a true prize fighter not maximizing his true potential. Now that Canelo is away from Oscar, let’s hope less red tape and boxing politics stands in the way for Alvarez to fight some good fighters as time progresses. Boxing is a business and money is an incentive, but in the end, talent should never go to unnoticed and we as fans want to see the best! Enjoy your day today!
Scooby, your comments are usually decent, obviously your never in favor of Canelo, but c’mon man really? You say, “Alvarez to fight some good fighters”? As if his last 20 opponents were nobody’s? GGG (twice), Jacobs, Lara, Kovalev, Smith, Cotto, Kirkland, Mayweather, just to name a few were not good fighters? Compare Canelo’s resume to any active boxer out there and I promise you nobody can even come close to his resume. He just fought a very game and tough Smith in DEC and is taking a presumably easy fight against a mandatory challenger to keep boxing alive and fans happy 2 months later and you have a problem with him taking a night off? Damn man, in the words of a very famous fake gladiator, “are you not entertained?”
Oops, maybe I need to help clarify my side. I mean in current time about Canelo’s now and future status in me backing out not watching his fights only thru highlights till better fighters come along. Yes, Canelo had his moments fighting other fighters. I am actually tickled to death he got away from Oscar and would like to see Canelo maximize his potential now. When Canelo was fighting under Oscar, yes, I had a sour taste in my mouth trying to support Canelo’s background in boxing. We will see what the future holds. Thank you for the response. Great to hear from you.
Scoobs… Very true… now that Canelo is essentially a PitBull that was left off his GBP leash, lets see where it leads him.. i’m thinking its gonna lead him into alot of big fights the fans wanna see.. just a hunch.. BUT yes, i agree with you. i think Oscar was definitely doing him and the fans an injustice
Canelo had been training for months when he announced he was fighting Callum and in return Callum had maybe 4-5 weeks to get ready for the biggest fight of his life.
Arturo, I do recall that controversy floating around prior to the right.
Arturo,
You are right,
Very common practice for ever, amoungst boxings elite fighters
Sugar Ray, de la hoya, msywather, etc.. Etc……