WBC and WBA super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) is a day away from his mandatory title defense against Avni Yildirim, his first of a two-fight agreement with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. Assuming he wins as expected and comes away unscathed, his second fight will come in a unification with WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs).
Canelo, of course, had a high-profile breakup with Golden Boy Promotions last year as he remained sidelined and without an opponent to face. His lawsuit against GBP, Oscar De La Hoya, and DAZN led to him getting released from his Golden Boy contract and as a result his $365 million mega-deal with DAZN went up in smoke.