Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has reportedly agreed to a middleweight title defense Feb. 27 against Avni Yildirim at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Mike Coppinger of The Athletic reported details of the championship bout, which will be broadcast on DAZN.
Alvarez is coming off a dominant performance against Callum Smith in December to unify the WBA and WBC super middleweight titles.
The lopsided unanimous decision marked the 30-year-old Mexican superstar's fifth straight victory since a draw with Gennady Golovkin. His only career loss (54-1-2) came against Floyd Mayweather Jr. by majority decision in their hyped September 2013 matchup.
Along with the mandatory WBC middleweight defense against Yildirim, his camp is also in discussions with WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders about a fight during Cinco de Mayo weekend, per Coppinger.
"I've worked hard for this, and it's a great situation to be in," Alvarez told Joseph Santoliquito of The Ring in early January. "It's a pretty simple plan for 2021, fight for all of the belts at 168 and fight three times, maybe four. We'll see."
Fights in February and May would leave enough time for two more bouts during the second half of the year if he wants to remain on an aggressive schedule.
Yildirim is coming off his second career defeat (21-2), losing to Anthony Dirrell in a fight for the vacant WBC super middleweight belt in February. It was a technical decision after Dirrell was cut by a headbutt.
The 29-year-old Turkey native will be a massive underdog in February's meeting with Alvarez. It will be the biggest fight of his career by a considerable margin.
Yildirim discussed the potential of a shot at Alvarez in a December interview with Jack Figg of The Sun:
"I don't care if we fight in Mexico, the U.S., Turkey or on the moon as long as I get my shot at the world title. For me, it is not so much about fighting Canelo. It is about fighting for the WBC world championship belt, the world famous green and gold belt, the biggest prize in boxing.
"I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and I am very proud that it will finally happen. I love Mexico, I have been there a couple of times, the people have always been very nice to me and treated me with respect. They are huge boxing fans and boxing experts so they appreciate a good fight. And that is what I will give them."
For him, it's a chance at a career-defining moment. For Alvarez, it's likely a brief stop on a busy schedule where he could further assert himself as the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
The Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Canelo Alvarez temporarily after he tested positive for clenbuterol, the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire reported Friday.
According to MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi, the NAC will reconvene April 10 to discuss Alvarez's suspension, and Alvarez will have an opportunity to argue his case.
The 27-year-old is set to fight Gennady Golovkin in Las Vegas on May 5.
Raimondi reported the positive samples were collected in February.
After the results were revealed in March, Golden Boy Promotions blamed tainted meat as the reason for the elevated levels of clenbuterol. Daniel Eichner, the director of the lab that conducted the tests on Alvarez's sample, added the results "are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination."
Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole shared the full statement:
Tainted meat has been a problem for athletes, with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency dedicating a page of its official website to warning those who were training or competing outside the United States. The World Anti-Doping Agency also published a statement in November 2011 in which it directed athletes to "exercise extreme caution with regards to eating meat when traveling to competitions in China and Mexico."
According to Raimondi, the NAC has suspended athletes for clenbuterol, so the reasoning behind his positive test may not spare Alvarez a suspension that would rule out fighting Golovkin.
Alvarez and Golovkin met for the first time last September, with judges scoring their fight a split decision.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has hit back against Gennady Golovkin's statements about him being a steroid user.
Per TMZ Sports, Alvarez issued a warning to Golovkin about what to expect in their May 5 rematch.
"I'm gonna kick your f--king ass ... little bitch," Canelo wrote in a post on social media.
Those comments came one day after Golovkin told reporters he didn't buy Canelo's claim that his positive drug test was due to tainted beef, via USA Today's Martin Rogers:
"Canelo's team are using these drugs and everybody's trying to pretend it's not happening. This guy, he knows. This is not his first day in boxing. He proves he gets benefits from everyone and he can get away with it. The commentators, commission, doping commission—this is a very bad business, [it's] not sport. Check him on a lie detector and then we can find out everything."
Alvarez announced earlier this month he tested positive for clenbuterol.
Daniel Eichner, director of the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory that conducted Alvarez's test, told the Associated Press the "values are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination."
Per ESPN's Dan Rafael, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is investigating the situation before making an official ruling on Alvarez's status for the Golovkin rematch.
HBO Boxing announced on Thursday that the rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin would take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The date for the fight was already announced as May 5.
12 Rounds Weren't Enough. 5.5.18 #CaneloGGG2 pic.twitter.com/OuzNalG84f
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) January 29, 2018
The first bout between the fighters ended in a draw, and both made it clear after the fight they wanted a rematch.
"I want to thank my fans, and of course I want the rematch," Golovkin said, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times. "This was a real fight. I still have the belts and I'm still champion."
"I thought I won the fight. I was superior inside the ring. I won at least seven, eight of the rounds," Alvarez added. "I was able to counterpunch and even make Gennady Golovkin wobble a couple of times. It's up to the people if we fight again. I feel frustrated over this draw."
The fight was an instant classic, and a rematch was the obvious outcome.
"This is the most exciting fight that fans have seen in years," promoter Oscar De La Hoya told Pugmire. "Obviously, it begs for a rematch."
The rematch will take place at the same venue as the original fight.
"It feels right that the rematch returns to the scene of the crime," Golovkin noted, per Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook. "This time there will be no drama with a decision. I won the first fight and left the ring as world champion wearing all the belts. And I am going to win the second fight. It is going to be a record fight and a golden night for me and boxing at T-Mobile Arena."
Obviously, Alvarez sees things a bit differently.
"This time, Golovkin won't have any excuses regarding the judges, because I'm coming to knock him out," he said in January, per Bob Velin of USA Today.
Gennady Golovkin and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will reportedly continue their rivalry inside the ring, as the two middleweight stars will have a rematch on May 5 after their first fight ended in a draw.
Per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Canelo has agreed to the fight with Golovkin's camp expected to sign off on the deal "within the next few days."
Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez told Pugmire there is no rematch clause included in the deal.
"It's going to be another great fight, so it'll likely be a natural to do another rematch, but it's not in the agreement," Gomez said.
GGG and Canelo finally came face-to-face on September 16 after years of waging a war of words in the press, and the duo fought to a controversial draw.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya previously revealed there was a contractual immediate rematch clause, and after their first bout, both expressed interest in using it, per Chris Chavez of Sports Illustrated.
Andreas Hale of The Corner Podcast was one of many pundits predicting a rematch on Cinco de Mayo as soon as the fight ended:
The fact the holiday will fall on a Saturday in 2018 sets things up beautifully for Canelo, Mexico's most popular boxer of the moment.
The first fight between the two was a close affair, with Canelo enjoying the better start and finish and Golovkin pursuing the Mexican in the middle rounds. Most fans and pundits had Golovkin winning a close decision, thanks to his higher output, attacking style and fearsome jab that found its target throughout the fight.
But while one judge scored the fight in favor of the Kazakh and a second scored the bout a draw, Adalaide Byrd shocked everyone watching with a 118-110 card in favor of Canelo. MMAFighting's Ariel Helwani was one of many who questioned the card:
Golovkin walked through some of Canelo's best punches in the first fight and should have reason to believe he can cruise to a decision win if he's less timid early in the rematch, but time is on the Mexican's side.
While Canelo seems to improve with every passing fight, Golovkin is slowly starting to show his age. The 35-year-old saw his long knockout streak ended by Daniel Jacobs and didn't land his devastating power shots to the body as cleanly against Alvarez―every passing day is in the latter's advantage.
Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs), one of the best fighters of his generation, is potentially ending his career on his own terms Saturday night.
The 37-year-old Puerto Rican, who has won six world titles in four different weight classes over a 16-year pro career, has set up a final bout against Sadam Ali (25-1, 14 KOs) for the WBO world super welterweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Boxing fans would be wise to clear time in their schedules to see him off, although it sometimes takes multiple farewells before a fighter finally hangs the gloves up.
Cotto vs. Ali Fight Info
When: Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York City
TV: HBO, BoxNation (UK, subscription required)
Live Stream: BoxNation (UK, subscription required)
Tickets: StubHub
Cotto has fought some of the biggest names in the sport during his career, faltering against the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather but taking down others such as Shane Mosley and Sergio Martinez. A fan favorite due to his willingness to take on boxing's best and his entertaining style, Cotto will go down as one of the more respected fighters of the past couple of decades.
CBSSports.com's Brian Campbell called him "the most honest fighter of his generation" for taking on so many challenges throughout career and handling them with transparency:
"Cotto will be remembered for the honest effort he gave in his biggest fights and the consistency of the entertainment in which he regularly provided. A noted family man outside the ring, he was as human and real of a fighter inside it as his generation had to offer and a refreshing boxer-businessman who went a long way in making sure, along with securing big paydays for himself, that the fans still received what they wanted most."
Ali, his opponent Saturday night, isn't anywhere near the level of those illustrious names, and that could be why Cotto ends up un-retiring at some point.
Cotto wanted to face the winner of the Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez bout, but a draw in that blockbuster matchup scrapped those plans. The desire to cap his career with against a high-profile opponent could draw him back to the ring, even as he approaches 40 years old.
Judging by the odds, Cotto's final bow doesn't figure to be the kind of kinetic, competitive contest fans have grown accustomed to seeing him in. According to OddsShark.com (as of Thursday, Nov. 29), Cotto is a -1000 favorite (bet $1,000 to win $100), Ali a +600 underdog. Cotto comes into the contest having won four of his last five bouts, the lone defeat coming against Alvarez in November 2015.
In his most recent bout in August, Cotto pummeled Yoshihiro Kamegai for 12 rounds on the way to a decision victory. The clean, powerful combinations Cotto was landing in that bout would have destroyed just about any other fighter, but Kamegai appears to have an indestructible chin.
Ali will have to be much more careful than Kamegai was if he is to have any chance in this bout. The 29-year-old from Brooklyn should feel comfortable fighting in his hometown, but Cotto presents a far greater challenge than any he has faced in his career.
This is the second world-title fight for Ali. He lost by ninth-round TKO to Jessie Vargas in a WBO world welterweight bout early last year, which is the only defeat of his career so far. Ali has won his last three contests since that defeat.
While Cotto has the star power, pedigree and proven skill set, Ali is confident he can upset the man eight years his senior.
"I'm really excited to be fighting at MSG against a legend," Ali said, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ. "I know what's in front on me, and I know what I'm stepping up to. I'm different, I'm a bit of a boxer, I can brawl if I need to, and I have my little tricks."
The opportunity in front of Ali is massive, but he's facing a fighter who has seemingly made up his mind on his career. While Cotto may come back if the right opportunity presents itself, there's no boxer lurking on the horizon. Cotto won't be taking Ali lightly or looking past him toward a bigger bout. Instead, he seems ready to put his career behind him and focus on family, not fighting.
"I have been doing this for 26 years of my life," Cotto said, per SportingNews.com's Steven Muehlhausen. "My kids are growing up. [I] want to be with them, spend more time with them. To be a family man, to be a husband and to be a father. I want to be more than a boxer in my life, and being an important part in my family's life is my goal."
Cotto has done plenty in his career to secure a ticket to the boxing Hall of Fame, and can be proud of the legacy he will leave behind if Saturday night is his swansong. The likable star will do everything he can to make sure he goes out on a high note.
Boxing fans in Las Vegas, Nevada, were not happy Saturday night as the middleweight bout between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Gennady "GGG" Golovkin was announced a draw.
Boos rained down inside the T-Mobile Arena as the scores were revealed.
The draw likely feels like more of a win for those rooting for Canelo, as GGG entered the match with a perfect 37-0 record.
[Twitter]
Canelo Alvarez has said he will "without a doubt" knock out Gennady Golovkin when they fight in September.
He spoke to TMZ on Thursday:
Alvarez said: "This fight, I don't see it going 12 rounds. I can almost guarantee it won't make the 12 rounds."
The match-up is a mouthwatering one indeed, and both fighters—Golovkin in particular—are used to winning by stoppage.
Alvarez, who has lost just one of his 51 fights, has won via knockout on 34 occasions, while Golovkin's 37 career bouts have yielded 37 wins and 33 by knockout.
Both will be putting their middleweight titles on the line, with Alvarez defending The Ring title, while GGG is defending his WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, and IBO belts.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden is eagerly anticipating the clash:
I love the #MayweatherMcGregor circus. But I hope fight fans don't forget about #CaneloGGG. Best fight #boxing has seen in some time.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) June 19, 2017
However, the announcement of Conor McGregor's professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in August has taken the limelight away from the fight.
TMZ asked Alvarez for his take on it being scheduled so close to their September 16 fight, to which he replied: "Personally, it doesn't bother me. I'm not losing sleep over it, but I think as a sport it's a lack of respect. A lack of respect to the fans, to boxing. Mayweather, one of the best fighters in recent years, to be fighting a pro debut? It's a lack of respect."
He added he has "no interest whatsoever" in fighting McGregor himself.
ESPN's Dan Rafael believes it has been poorly scheduled in relation to Alvarez's clash:
While the showpiece between McGregor and Mayweather holds mainstream box office appeal in its own right, Golovkin stepping into the ring with Alvarez will likely be far more hotly anticipated by boxing purists.
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is certainly looking forward to it, per BoxingInsider.com:
Seeing how UFC star McGregor fares against Money is an intriguing prospect, but the signs largely point to a one-sided affair in the latter's favour given he boasts a 49-0 career record and is perhaps the best defensive fighter the sport has ever seen.
However, Alvarez and Golovkin are the two most exciting fighters in the middleweight division and have been for some time, so it promises to be a thrilling contest.
It may well end in a knockout, but such is the strength of both Alvarez and Golovkin, it could go either way.
Brave. Courageous. Spirited. Valiant. All those words have been spotted on social media to describe Liam Smith's efforts against Saul Alvarez—and he earned every one of them.
Despite losing the fight in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Beefy won his battle for respect.
However, kind words won't offer much comfort in the immediate aftermath to a bout that saw Canelo celebrate Mexican independence weekend by claiming the WBO light middleweight title with a stoppage win.
The Englishman found out the hard way that there is a difference between being a world champion and being a world-class boxer.
Alvarez had faced plenty of criticism in the buildup over his chosen career path. Gennady Golovkin's name was prominent throughout the pre-fight talk, despite the Kazakh not actually being involved in the card.
Yet when it came down to the actual fighting, Canelo reminded everyone just how good he is.
Having knocked out Amir Khan with a devastating right hand in Round 6 of a catchweight contest in May, he produced a thudding left hook in Round 9 that had Smith gasping for air like a fish plucked out of water.
Canelo wins from a brutal body shot in round 9.pic.twitter.com/hWnlCi2FLT
— SportPlanet™ (@SportPlanet_) September 18, 2016
Smith didn't see the punch coming, but the audience did. Not just in the split second before it landed under the Liverpudlian's ribs, but also in how the contest had unfolded since the opening bell.
Up against a foe who had never gone swimming in the deep end before, Alvarez was in control throughout, scoring two knockdowns before delivering the big finish.
A dejected but honest Smith admitted the better man won in his post-fight interview, per quotes obtained by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com:
He was too good and skillful today, and I was too slow. I did hit him with some jabs and right hands, but to be more competitive I needed better timing, and my timing was off. I think maybe if I waited a little longer and gotten more experience I would have been able to fight a guy like that better. I am very disappointed.
Smith's preparations for the biggest fight of his life were not helped by an injury picked up in training. A cut above his eye suffered in a sparring session with Kell Brook in August denied him the chance to get crucial rounds under his belt.
Yet no amount of sparring can truly prepare you for taking on someone like Canelo, who celebrated the landmark of 50 pro fights in style.
This was no John Thompson, whom Smith had stopped last year to claim the vacant belt. It was certainly not Jimmy Kelly or Predrag Radosevic, who'd been in the opposite corner for Smith's two successful defences of the WBO strap.
Having desperately wanted the opportunity to face a big-name opponent, the reality soon hit home. It was like trying to beat Usain Bolt in a sprint having previously won the egg-and-spoon race at school sports day.
Yet Smith showed more than enough to suggest he can come again at the top level.
The loss doesn't mean anything more than the end of his unbeaten record, and he will have learned more in losing to Alvarez than all his previous 24 bouts combined.
He plans to come back better than ever, via BoxNation on Twitter:
Canelo isn't expected to hang around at the 154-pound limit for long, according to Rafael.
The WBO title could soon become vacant again, opening the door for Smith to claim it back. He is unlikely to find the competition so stiff in his next outing—not unless he fancies a few rounds with Golovkin.
The 28-year-old could even face old sparring partner Brook—who lost to middleweight king Golovkin in London the previous week—down the line.
The pair each earned plenty of praise for their performances, even if the results weren't what they hoped for.
Smith dared to dream against Canelo. Brook believed he could find a way to puncture the air of invincibility surrounding Golovkin. The duo should be applauded for their willingness to take on such daunting challenges, but they did so hoping to earn more than just consoling pats on the back (plus big cheques).
Ricky Hatton knows exactly how they feel. A popular world champion who achieved so much as a fighter, The Hitman fell short in his two biggest tests, against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Eventually, those two modern greats who had Hatton's number faced each other. The same must happen with Alvarez and Golovkin, too.
Yet despite the recent setbacks, boxing in Britain is enjoying a boom period.
Television interest is high right now, plus social media helps to spread the word. There is an appetite for more, whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore enthusiast. Tickets and pay-per-view buys cost the same no matter how much you know about the sport.
However, what Britain really needs is a genuine superstar to emerge from the pack. A fighter who can slap his CV down and say he deserves to be in the conversation to head the pound-for-pound rankings.
Featherweight Carl Frampton is getting there, particularly after the Northern Irishman became a two-weight world champion with his points victory over Leo Santa Cruz earlier this year.
Heavyweight Tyson Fury would no doubt argue he is the best already, and he can state his case to be Britain's top dog in the rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on October 29.
Super middleweight James DeGale—who has won his last three bouts on foreign soil—is never shy on self promotion, while Anthony Joshua offers great hope for the future in the heavyweight division.
Yet the performances from Canelo and GGG against two British world champions served as timely reminders—while titles provide trinkets of success, statement wins truly define a boxer's career.
