CANELO ALVAREZ set up his unification clash with Billy Joe Saunders by destroying Avni Yildirim in three brutal rounds.
The Turkish challenger was a 14/1 shots with many bookies – and those odds didn’t lie as he was blitzed.
Canela Alaverez beat Avni Yildirim in three roundsCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Canelo Alvarez was never in trouble against Avni YildirimCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Canelo Alvarez barely broke a sweat as he blitzed Avni YildirimCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
There was only one way Yildirim was going after Canelo landed a lovely combo in the second roundCredit: DAZN
Yildirim was a huge outsider – and there was never going to be a shockCredit: DAZN
Yildirim was asked by his corner if he was ok as he sat on his stool at the end of the third – he answered ‘yes’ but all that changed in a few seconds as his corner waved it off.
Canelo has spoken of how he wants four fights this year – and No2 is set to be against Brit Saunders in May.
After the easy win in Miami, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed Canelo, 30, will fight the WBO super middleweight and unbeaten champ on May 8.
The one-sided battering of Yildirim came just over two months since Canelo easily outpointed Liverpool’s Callum Smith to win the WBA super and WBC super-middleweight belts.
It was a decent exchange in the opening round – Canelo nodding his head at Yildirim as if to thank him for lasting the three minutes.
It wasn’t long until Yildirim was feeling Canelo’s power in the second, noticeably stumbling backwards a couple of times as the shots rained into the bread basket.
And the 29-year-old Turkish fighter was on the canvas after a beautiful right hand – but got to his feet quickly in the third.
Then followed shots raining in from all angles as Yildirim, who was KO’d by Chris Eubank Jr in 2017, was a rabbit in headlights.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
The Turkish fight quit at the end of the third round in what was a one-sided affairCredit: DAZN
And it was a rabbit Canelo was determined to run straight through in order to defend his world titles.
Speaking after his 55th win in 58 bouts, Canelo said: “I felt very good, it is great to be active and I wanted to have agreat fight.
“I needed the knockout and that is what I got.
“It does not matter if my opponents are taller or bigger, I have the right trainer to beat them all.
“At super-middle I feel strong and fast and comfortable, it is one of my best moments.
“I will fight anyone, the best, I am making history.”
Billy Joe Saunders gets his big chance against Canelo in MayCredit: PA:Press Association
Then on the future, he added: “I want everybody.
“Saunders is the WBO champion and I want to unify.
“Saunders will try to get under my skin, people talk but I am a mature fighter who controls myself. Words are just bluffs.
“No one in Latin America has ever been undisputed at super-middle and no one has done that in the world.
“I want to make my own history, I don’t want to be like anyone else. I respect everyone.”
Eddie Hearn says Billy Joe Saunders ‘has the style’ to beat Canelo
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
