DAZN refuse to stage Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs Anvi Yildirim fight

Planet Sport writerStaff Writer20 August 2020
DAZN are said to be against a potential fight between Saul 'Canelo Alvarez and Avni Yildirim

DAZN are said to be against a potential fight between Saul 'Canelo Alvarez and Avni Yildirim

What a mess...

DAZN will not stream a fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Avni Yildirim should the fight come into fruition, even at a discounted purse.

Boxing365 understands the American OTT streaming service is not interested in staging the fight despite the WBC ordering the bout for its vacant super middleweight title.

Canelo was hoping to return to the ring on Mexican Independence Weekend – September 12 – but will no longer after failing to secure an opponent. Alongside the underwhelming reaction of fans on social media, DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions are reluctant to finalise the bout.
Yildirim last fought over 500 days ago and tasted defeat to Anthony Dirrell for the WBC strap, before surrendering it to David Benavidez, who became a two-time champion at 168-pounds. However, in his most recent fight, Benavidez was stripped of the belt after concerns over his weight.

The search goes on for Canelo

The Mexican superstar has not fought since November 2, when he delivered a spectacular knockout to win the WBO light heavyweight title. In doing so, he became a four-division world champion.
His other two fights under the DAZN banner saw him unify the division against Daniel Jacobs while his debut was a lopsided victory over England’s Rocky Fielding. The 30-year-old has eight fights left from an 11-fight contract which saw him agree to a $365m deal – boxing’s most lucrative pact.
The aim is to get Canelo back in action in October or November with a legitimate contender or champion. WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders was the original opponent expected to face Canelo before the pandemic on Cinco de Mayo but no contract was signed and Saunders later backed out of the original plan to fight on September 12.
Callum Smith was the other identified fighter – the WBA champion at 168-pounds – and they offered him the fight only for Joe Gallagher to turn down an initial offer.

The issue between DAZN and Canelo is the purse he will be paid for his next bout. Canelo expects to receive $40m for his next fight regardless while DAZN executive John Skipper will only give that fee for a premium fight.

One fight which would fit that bit is against Gennadiy Golovkin but the trilogy between the duo will have to wait as GGG has agreed to fight IBF mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta.