WBC president: Canelo wants February fight vs. Yildirim in Mexico

Canelo Alvarez isn't waiting another 13 months to get back in the ring.

Alvarez is focused on defending his WBC, WBA, and Ring Magazine super-middleweight belts early in 2021, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said Tuesday, according to Manouk Akopyan of Boxingscene.com.

He's targeting a February fight against Avni Yildirim - the WBC's mandatory challenger at 168 pounds - in Mexico. It would mark Alvarez's first fight in his native country since 2011.

"When David Benavidez did not make weight (and was stripped of his title in August), Canelo Alvarez immediately contacted the WBC," Sulaiman told reporters. "He wanted to win the WBC super-middleweight title. He wants to defend against the mandatory contender in Avni Yildirim at the beginning of the year. We'll be in communication with him soon."

Yildirim's last fight was nearly two years ago when he lost via split technical decision to Anthony Dirrell in February 2019. He's excited to end his layoff and get the title shot he's been waiting for.

"I don't care if we fight in Mexico, the U.S., Turkey, or on the moon, as long as I get my shot at the world title," Yildirim told The Sun's Jack Figg. "For me, it is not so much about fighting Canelo. It is about fighting for the WBC world championship belt, the world-famous green and gold belt, the biggest prize in boxing.

"I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and I am very proud that it will finally happen."

Alvarez ended his own long layoff in style this past weekend by defeating Callum Smith via unanimous decision, upping his career record to 54-1-2. The 30-year-old captured both the WBC and WBA super-middleweight belts with the win, and he now owns titles in four weight classes.