Alvarez defeats Yildirim, keeps title

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez outclassed Avni Yildirim and retained his world super-middleweight titles with a technical knockout after Yildirim failed to answer the bell for the fourth round late Saturday night at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Alvarez, of Mexico, dropped the Turkish challenger with a left right combination to the head midway through the third round. Alvarez followed with additional combinations, pinning Yildirim on the ropes. Yildirim survived the round but absorbed sufficient punishment that forced his trainer Joel Diaz to stop the fight.

With the victory, Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KOS) successfully defended his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association belts.

“I came and did what I had to do,” Alvarez said. “I had to win by knockout and I accomplished it.”

Saturday’s bout was the first of what Alvarez hopes will be a busy year seeking unification fights. Alvarez said there have been preliminary conversations for a bout with Billy Joe Saunders, the World Boxing Organization titleholder, in May. Caleb Plant holds the fourth sanctioning body belt.

“Everybody wants a piece of Canelo but I am not going to let them take anything,” Alvarez said.

As he continues to solidify his spot among the sport’s poundfor-pound elite, Alvarez also is gaining additional ground for inclusion on the short list of best fighters in boxing rich Mexico’s history.

“I respect history but I also want to make my history,” Alvarez said. “Those that came before me will always have my respect.”