Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith
Canelo Alvarez will have to patiently wait before he can fight again before a live audience in Mexico. (Photo: Ed Mulholland/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports)

Canelo Alvarez is expected to make a title defense in February against Avni Yildirim but it appears it won’t take place in Mexico. The original plan was to defend the WBC, WBA super-middleweight titles in Guadalajara, Mexico but COVID-19 restrictions would prevent large crowds from watching the bout live.

Further, Alvarez’s handler Eddy Reynoso also said that a ring return in Mexico would depend if there was a live audience present.

Hence, a change in venue looms with Texas or another location likely to be the stage for the Alvarez vs. Yildirim clash. As of this writing, nothing has been mentioned. His last fight against Callum Smith Jr. was held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

   

It should be noted that the only change made here is the venue. Alvarez remains on course as far as his schedule is concerned. After the Yildirim fight, the Mexican Brawler is expected to fight again by Cinco De Mayo weekend in May.

If the pandemic situation improves, that could be the fight in Mexico that Alvarez could be waiting for. However, there is no mention of who the Mexican may fight by that time.

Gennady Golovkin has been mentioned as a possible opponent although other boxers are interested. That includes Billy Joe Saunders who Alvarez should have fought in 2020 had it not been complicated by the coronavirus.

It has been almost more than nine years since Alvarez has fought in Mexico. In 2011, he fought twice. The first one was him defending the WBC junior middleweight title against Ryan Rhodes at the VFG Arena in Jalisco. He would fight again in November, facing former champion Kermit Clintron at the Monumental Plaza de Toros.

A new venue for the Alvarez vs. Yildirim fight should be known soon. Alvarez is a heavy favorite to prevail although the Turkish side claims they will give the Mexican a better challenge compared to how Smith performed.

Yildirim is the mandatory challenger and agreed to step aside for the Alvarez vs. Smith showdown to take place. He was promised to face the winner of that match and that turned out to be (unsurprisingly) Alvarez.

Alvarez’s goal is to win all the titles in the super middleweight division (168-pounds). After dealing with Yilidirm, he is expected to look at other belts he can add to his collection.