USA Today via Reuters
Dec 19, 2020; San Antonio, TX, USA; Canelo Alvarez is introduced before his WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine super middleweight championship bout against Callum Smith at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 19, 2020; San Antonio, TX, USA; Canelo Alvarez is introduced before his WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine super middleweight championship bout against Callum Smith at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Canelo Alvarez will return to the ring earlier than you expect. The Mexican super-star only fought Callum Smith in December; however, he seems to be making up for the lost time. He will now face his WBC mandatory, Avni Yildirim.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 15: Boxer Canelo Alvarez poses on the scale during his official weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez will challenge WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin for his titles at T-Mobile Arena on September 16 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Canelo became the WBC super-middleweight champion with his victory over Callum Smith. However, he has to face the mandatory for that belt before he can take on any unification fights. Therefore, next in line for him is Avni Yildirim.
Initial reports suggested that the preferred destination for the fight was in the Mexican’s hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. However, Michael Benson from TalkSPORT picked up on the news from ESPN MX and reported that now the USA is the most likely location for the fight.
Canelo Alvarez vs Avni Yildirim appears set to take place in America in February as the pandemic has reportedly made it too difficult to stage as a homecoming in Mexico. [According to @ESPNmx]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) January 7, 2021
The reason for the shift is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Apparently, carrying out the fight in Mexico would be a difficult task and therefore, they have now shifted to the USA where there have already been several fights under COVID-19 protocols.
READ: Canelo Alvarez Reveals His Plan to Become Undisputed Champion in 2021
The possible timeline revealed for Canelo Alvarez vs Avni Yildirim
February is the reported time frame for this fight. This makes it an ideal date for the Mexican, as it will allow Canelo to get past his obligations early on and then set up the two big fights against Caleb Plant and Billy Joe Saunders in May and September.
29-year-old Yildirim has been on the fringes of a world title for a while now. However, he will face his toughest test yet in Alvarez. Experts are already suggesting that the Mexican will get past the Turk with ease and then can make the fights he wants.
Alvarez has made his intentions clear and seems to be working towards it. After a year out of the game, he seems to be wasting no time to catch up on all the action he has missed. Do you think he can get through Yildirim and then make the two big fights all fans are looking forward to?
READ: Canelo Alvarez Threatens to Seriously ‘Damage’ Gennady Golovkin in Their Trilogy
