Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s first appearance in 2021 went just as he and his team had planned. Canelo crushed Turkey’s Avni Yildirim in three rounds to retain his WBA, WBC Super Middleweight Championships. (photos by Ed Mulholland).

The atmosphere was hot with 15,000 people at the Dolphins stadium in Miami and Canelo showed what he is made of and combined body punches with strong shots to the face to dominate the entire fight and make the first defense of the belts he captured in December.

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The Mexican superstar improved his record to 55 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws and 37 knockouts, while Yildirim dropped his record to 21 wins, 3 setbacks and 13 knockouts.

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