| |
|
CANELO STOPS YILDIRIM IN THREE, EYES SAUNDERS NEXT
By Dong Secuya PhilBoxing.com Sun, 28 Feb 2021

The pre-fight noise was more entertaining but the moment was too big and the lights were too bright for the Turkish upstart Avni Yildirim who showed nothing in front Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez who completely dominated the fight before Yildirim was unable to answer the bell for the 4th round. Canelo thus easily retained his WBC, WBA and Ring lineal super middleweight belts in front of full house crowd of 15,000, the first such huge crowd in the pandemic, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
Yildirim who got the call to fight Canelo as the WBC mandatory challenger, fought cautious and deliberate and was an easy target practice for the faster and sharp Mexican superstar. Canelo threw a variety of punches - right and left uppercuts and straights to the head against the stationary challenger who was never able to connect a worthwhile punch.
Top photo: Canelo (R) connects with a right straight that sent Yildirim to the canvas.

Canelo throws loads of uppercuts that broke the will of Yildirim who refused to come out in the 4th round.
A right straight by Canelo clipped Yildirim to the jaw in the third round that dropped the Turkish to the canvas for the first time. Yildirim beat the count as Canelo looked to finish the fight early but Yildirim survived the round on his feet.
At Yildirim's corner, trainer Joel Diaz told the Turk to show him something in the next round or he would stop the fight. Diaz however had seen enough of his fighter and did not allow Yildirim to answer the bell in the fourth round.
Alvarez (55-1-2, 37KOs) would now possibly face WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders of Britain as both Canelo and Saunders are being promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.
Mexican lightweight sensation and Canelo stablemate Ryan Garcia who was in the Canelo-Yildirim fight as one of the broadcasters, said Canelo personally told him that he wants to fight Saunders next.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN" , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts , Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS , Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now , Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced , Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV , Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|