Video: Canelo Alvarez stops Avni Yildirim in glorified tune-up fight

Job done as expected for Canelo Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KOs). He was no match for WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim (21-3, 12 KOs) and floored the Turkish fighter in the third round to cap off a one-sided beating in front of 15,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It was an anticlimactic ending as Yildirim’s cornerman Joel Diaz wasn’t interested in seeing that beatdown continue any longer than it needed to.

So Canelo got what was essentially a tune-up fight, won comfortably, and now he’s set to fight Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs) for the WBC, WBA, and WBO super-middleweight unification spectacular on May 8th. That is going to be a far more compelling and interesting fight than this was.

Watch the video highlights below, or the full highlights at the top of the page!

Here’s our play-by-play of the ending:

Round 3 – Hey a counter left hook by Yildirim! Alright! Good for him. Right hand by Canelo around the guard. One more left hook to the liver by Canelo and a hard right hand over the top. They trade punches in close quarters but it’s Alvarez doing more damage and there’s a right hand knockdown scored! Only a matter of time. Yildirim smiles as he beats the count but Canelo is ready to go in for the finish. Yildirim with a left hook. Straight right backs up the Turkish fighter. Canelo with over a minute to work with. Solid uppercut by Canelo. Alvarez drills Yildirim with body and head shots aplenty. He survives but for how much longer? 10-8 Alvarez and 30-26 Alvarez.

Round 4 – There is no round 4. Yildirim’s corner just stopped it.

Official result: Canelo Alvarez def. Avni Yildirim by RTD, 3:00 of round 3 to remain WBC and WBA super-middleweight title