_15.jpg)
Eddie Hearn is expecting fireworks in Miami as Canelo Alvarez defends his WBC, WBA world super middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on February 27.
Canelo (54-1-2 36 KOs) makes a rapid return to the ring at the home of the Miami Dolphins, taking on his WBC mandatory challenger Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs).
The Mexican superstar dominated Callum Smith in clinical fashion in San Antonio, Texas in December and the 30 year old looks to stamp his authority on the division, with Hearn looking at pitting Canelo against WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders on May 8th.
“It’s great to see Canelo so active, especially in the world we live in at the moment, I think it’s a real statement from him,” said Hearn.
“He’s mixing it up by fighting in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, to be promoting Canelo at the home of the Miami Dolphins is pretty special. We’re going to have around 15,000 in there, Avni is the mandatory challenger and it’s a great opportunity for him and a big opportunity for Canelo to stay active hopefully before a big Billy Joe Saunders fight and on a huge night on February 27.”
The chief support on the night comes in the form of Canelo’s stablemate Julio Cesar Martinez defending his WBA flyweight title against his mandatory challenger, McWilliams Arroyo.
Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) has been frustrated by injury ruling him out of two previously scheduled defenses, so Hearn expects the pintsized tyro to be at his thrilling best in a classic Mexican-Puerto Rican war with Arroyo (20-4 15 KOs).
“Julio Cesar Martinez is special,” said Hearn. “I think he can go through everyone in the division and even move up to super flyweight and start looking at Estrada and Chocolatito, he’s so exciting and I can’t wait to see him in February 27.
“He will fight anyone, and Eddy Reynoso is confident in his ability. He was supposed to fight on the Canelo card in December so he should be hungry. Arroyo was a fantastic amateur with good pedigree and he’s a smart fighter, but I think that the footwork, strength and unpredictability of Julio will see him victorious.”