CANELO ALVAREZ returns tonight as the Mexican star defends his super-middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim.
Before a potentially HUGE unification clash against Billy Joe Saunders this summer, Canelo must turn on the style and the W this evening in Miami.
- Start time: Undercard from 1am GMT, main event around 4am
- TV channel/live stream: DAZN
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
BOXING SPECIAL: GET CANELO TO BEAT YILDIRIM AT 20/1
- Jim Sheridan
LAST TIME OUT
Canelo took on Brit challenger Callum Smith shortly before Christmas – and you'd never have known he was in a 12-round scrap.
The Mexican emerged victorious with barely a scratch on his body, while poor old Smith was left battered and bruised.
Canelo landed 43 percent of the punches he threw that night. Lethal.
- Jim Sheridan
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Canelo defends his WBC and WBA titles tonight at the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.
Eddie Hearn is in attendance, wearing a very brave outfit…
- Jim Sheridan
THE CHALLENGER
Make no mistake, Yildirim isn't simply in Miami tonight to make up the numbers.
He's a talented performer and the Turk is confident he can pull of a huge upset.
He told SunSport: "Canelo is an outstanding fighter and a great champion. But he is not invincible. He is human just like me. We‘ll see what happens.
"I am perfectly prepared, ready to go and can‘t wait to walk into the ring. I will do my best to make my people proud.
"It can only be good for me if he thinks of [Billy Joe Saunders] instead of me. I hope he does. But I‘m sure that I will get his attention. We will all find out Saturday night."
- Jim Sheridan
WHO IS ON THE BILL?
Two title fights in Florida tonight – who says we don't spoil you?
- Saul Alvarez vs Avni Yildirim (WBA & WBC world super-middleweight titles)
- Julio Cesar Martinez vs McWilliams Arroyo (WBC world flyweight title)
- Zhilei Zhang vs Jerry Forrest (heavyweight)
- Diego Pacheco vs Rodolfo Gomez Jr (super-middleweight)
- Alexis Espino vs Ashton Sykes (super-middleweight)
- Marc Castro vs Raul Corona (super-featherweight)
- Aaron Aponte vs Harry Gigliotti (super-lightweight)
- Keyshawn Davis vs Lester Brown (lightweight)
'WE WANT TO MAKE HISTORY'
Billy Joe is next up for Canelo if he gets things right in Miami tonight.
He said: "It's important for me and my trainer Eddy [Reynoso], because very few people have achieved becoming undisputed champions.
"And that’s a short-term goal for us. To win all the titles at 168 pounds.
"Obviously, no Mexican has ever done it. So that’s our short-term goal, to keep making history. And that’s what we want.
"Eddy and I have always wanted the best. And we want to keep making history."
CANELO VS YILDIRIM
He's back.
Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring tonight just two months after taking apart a game Callum Smith.
Billy Joe Saunders is on the horizon for the Mexican sensation – but first he has to make the mandatory defence of his super-middleweight title's.
Avni Yildirim is the man tasked with taking down Canelo, who has a pro record of 54-1-2 with a crazy 36 KO's.
The Turkish Wolf meanwhile comes into this one with 21 wins from his 23 fights. Definitely not too shabby.
Unification might be the ultimate aim for Alvarez, but this is a test he has to overcome if he wants that to happen.
There's a packed card on the way from Miami, with Julio Cesar Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo going for the WBC world flyweight title.
We'll be with you every step of the way, with the main event getting going around 4am GMT.
Get that coffee ready and strap in for a classic Stateside fight night.
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