Trainer: Avni Yildirim Coming To Swing Against Canelo Alvarez, Not Survive

Avni Yildirim is coming to win against Canelo Alvarez.

Yildirim challenges Alvarez for his super-middleweight titles on Saturday with many already ruling out his chances of winning as oddsmakers have installed the the latter as a -5000 favorite.

However, his trainer Joel Diaz believes that is a big mistake as Yildirim as there is always the chance of a major upset in boxing.

“Every opponent that comes in with Canelo, nobody ever gives them a chance,” Diaz told Fighthub (via BoxingNews24). “People never give any of Canelo’s opponents a chance.

“You got to have respect because every fighter deserves a chance. If you can swing and you can punch, you deserve a chance. There was a time as a trainer where I didn’t give somebody a chance and he surprised me. Andy Ruiz.

“… To us, it’s already a win-win because we’re fighting Canelo. It is a tough fight, we know.”

Yildirim is a natural 168-pounder and will have the size advantage over Alvarez. However, size didn’t help Callum Smith who was battered and shelling up for most of his unanimous decision defeat to Alvarez in December.

But as far as Diaz is concerned, Yildirim will be coming to fight and not just survive against who many consider the pound-for-pound best boxer in the sport today.

“He’s the bigger guy, he’s aggressive and he has the heart,” Diaz added about Yildirim’s qualities. “He goes in there and he gives it his all. Against Anthony Dirrell, he didn’t have much skills, but he was all balls out.

“Now put that now with a little more technique and a little more boxing ability. So we have an Avni that is dangerous because he comes. He’s going to come in there and swing and not just try and survive.”

Do you think he’s capable of pulling off the upset?