Avni Yıldırım

Avni Yıldırım (born 5 August 1991) is a Turkish professional boxer. He challenged for the IBO super-middleweight title in 2017, the WBC super-middleweight title in 2019, and the WBA (Super), WBC, and Ring magazine super-middleweight titles in February 2021.

Avni Yıldırım
Statistics
Nickname(s)
  • The Turkish Wolf
  • Mr. Robot
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm)
Reach70 in (178 cm)
NationalityTurkish
Born (1991-08-05) 5 August 1991
Sivas, Turkey
StanceOrthodox stance
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins24
Wins by KO13
Losses4
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Turkey
Mediterranean Games
2013 Mersin Light-heavyweight

Professional career

Yıldırım compiled a perfect record of 16-0 before challenging Chris Eubank Jr. for his IBO super-middleweight title on 7 October 2017 in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the World Boxing Super Series. He was knocked down by Eubank Jr. in the first round, before being knocked out two rounds later.[1]

Yıldırım rebounded from his first professional career loss with a run of five consecutive victories to improve to 21-1, before challenging Anthony Dirrell for the vacant WBC super-middleweight title on 23 February 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After Dirrell was cut from an accidental head clash, the fight was stopped in the tenth round, with Dirrell emerging as the victor by split technical decision (96-94, 96-94, 92-98). Yıldırım was not happy with the stoppage, stating “I was upset. I wanted to keep going and finish the fight as a champion.”[2] Yıldırım's promoter, Ahmet Oener, flew to Mexico City to meet with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to make their case for an immediate rematch. The WBC ultimately decided to resolve the matter by ordering a title fight between Dirrell and David Benavidez with the winner being mandated to face Yıldırım.[3] However, Yıldırım was sidetracked by injury and the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining his mandatory position.[4]

Following a layoff of over two years, Yıldırım returned to the ring on 27 February 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami to face highly-regarded unified super-middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez, again challenging for the WBC super-middleweight title which now belonged to Álvarez, in addition to Álvarez's WBA (Super) and The Ring titles. A huge underdog, Yıldırım was unable to overcome the odds as his opponent proved too much for him. Yıldırım retired on his stool at the end of the third round, having landed only 11 punches total in the fight, compared to Canelo's 67.[5][6]

Yıldırım faced Jack Cullen as part of Fight Camp in Brentwood, England on 31 July 2021.[7] He lost a wide unanimous decision, with scores of 100-90, 98-92, 97-93 all in favor of Cullen.[8]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
28 fights 24 wins 4 losses
By knockout 13 2
By decision 11 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
28 Win 24–4 Yusuf Kanguel UD 10 20 Nov 2021 Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
27 Win 23–4 Dominik Ameri UD 8 25 Sep 2021 Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
26 Win 22–4 Slavisa Simeunovic KO 1 (8), 2:54 21 Aug 2021 Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
25 Loss 21–4 Jack Cullen UD 10 31 Jul 2021 Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, England For vacant IBF International super-middleweight title
24 Loss 21–3 Canelo Álvarez RTD 3 (12), 3:00 27 Feb 2021 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US For WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring super-middleweight titles
23 Loss 21–2 Anthony Dirrell TD 10 (12), 1:55 23 Feb 2019 Minneapolis Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US For vacant WBC super-middleweight title;
Split TD after Dirrell cut from accidental head clash
22 Win 21–1 Lolenga Mock MD 12 15 Sep 2018 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
21 Win 20–1 Jose Antonio Rodriguez RTD 1 (10), 3:00 14 Jul 2018 Casa de los Clubes, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
20 Win 19–1 Ryan Ford UD 12 12 May 2018 Nobeo Studios, Cologne, Germany Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
19 Win 18–1 Derek Edwards UD 12 3 Mar 2018 Sartory Saale, Cologne, Germany Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
18 Win 17–1 Attila Korda TKO 1 (8), 1:36 16 Dec 2017 Messehalle, Straubing, Germany
17 Loss 16–1 Chris Eubank Jr. KO 3 (12), 1:58 7 Oct 2017 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany For IBO super-middleweight title;
World Boxing Super Series: super-middleweight quarter-final
16 Win 16–0 Marco Antonio Peribán UD 12 13 May 2017 Foro Aga de Palcco, Zapopan, Mexico Won vacant WBC International super-middleweight title
15 Win 15–0 Aliaksandr Sushchyts TKO 1 (12), 1:36 18 Feb 2017 Teatro Principe, Milan, Italy Retained WBC Silver International super-middleweight title
14 Win 14–0 Schiller Hyppolite TKO 3 (10), 2:44 5 Nov 2016 Ballhaus Forum, Munich, Germany Won vacant WBC Silver International super-middleweight title
13 Win 13–0 Aaron Pryor Jr UD 10 27 Aug 2016 Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
12 Win 12–0 Timur Nikarkhoev TKO 5 (8), 2:05 23 Jul 2016 Iron gym, Berlin, Germany
11 Win 11–0 Zoltan Sera TKO 2 (8), 0:45 23 May 2016 Petko's Gym, Dachau, Germany
10 Win 10–0 Jackson Junior KO 2 (12), 2:27 6 May 2016 Huxleys, Berlin, Germany Retained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
9 Win 9–0 Walter Gabriel Sequeira UD 12 26 Feb 2016 Stadthalle, Offenbach am Main, Germany Retained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
8 Win 8–0 Janne Forsman KO 1 (12), 1:07 18 Dec 2015 Sport Hall, Ratingen, Germany Retained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
7 Win 7–0 Bernard Donfack UD 12 11 Oct 2015 Sport Halle, Herne, Germany Retained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
6 Win 6–0 Glen Johnson UD 10 15 Aug 2015 Mana Studios, Miami, Florida, US Won vacant WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
5 Win 5–0 Steve Kroekel TKO 1 (8), 0:30 16 Jun 2015 Arena Boxgym, Düsseldorf, Germany
4 Win 4–0 Giorgi Aduashvili TKO 2 (4), 2:59 30 Apr 2015 Arena Boxgym, Düsseldorf, Germany
3 Win 3–0 Giorgi Beroshvili TKO 3 (8), 2:29 27 Feb 2015 Gloria Sports Arena, Antalya, Turkey
2 Win 2–0 Aleksandar Jankovic TKO 1 (6), 1:58 14 Feb 2015 Adnan Menderes Spor Salonu, Adana, Turkey
1 Win 1–0 Davit Ribakoni PTS 4 22 Mar 2014 Atatürk Spor Salonu, Tekirdag, Turkey

References
  1. "Eubank Jr powers through to semi-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. Rosenthal, Michael. "Dirrell reclaims WBC title with technical decision over Yildirim". PBC Boxing. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. "Dirrell-Benavidez ordered, likely for Aug. Or Sept". 25 March 2019.
  4. "Sulaiman: Benavidez-Angulo Still Can Happen Before Making Mandatory Against Yildirim".
  5. "Canelo stops Yildirim in three rounds after flooring him with brutal right hand". talkSPORT. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. "Canelo wins as Yildirim's corner throws in towel". ESPN.com. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  7. "Matchroom Fight Camp 2: Who is fighting? What are the main events? Dates, how to watch and more info | DAZN News UK". DAZN. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  8. "Little Lever star Jack Cullen beats Avni Yildirim for biggest win of career". The Bolton News. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
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