Avni Yıldırım


Avni Yıldırım is a Turkish professional boxer. He challenged for the WBC super-middleweight title in 2019, and the WBA (Super), WBC, and Ring (magazine)|Ring] magazine super-middleweight titles in 2021.

Professional career

Yıldırım vs. Eubank Jr.

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. Eubank Jr. was ranked #4 by the WBC and the IBF and #8 by the WBA. He was knocked down by Eubank Jr. in the first round, before being knocked out two rounds later.

Yıldırım vs. Mock

Yıldırım beat Lolenga Mock by majority decision in their 12 round contest on 15 September 2018. Mock was ranked #15 by the WBC at super middleweight at the time.

Yıldırım vs. Dirrell

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. Dirrell was ranked #1 by the WBC at the time. 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. Yıldırım was not happy with the stoppage, stating “I was upset. I wanted to keep going and finish the fight as a champion.” 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. However, Yıldırım was sidetracked by injury and the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining his mandatory position.

Yıldırım vs. Álvarez

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 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 Álvarez's 67.

Yıldırım vs. Cullen

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Loss24–5Yusuf KanguelTKO9, 0:5014 May 2022BJK Akatlar Arena, Istanbul, TurkeyFor vacant WBC Asia and Turkey super-middleweight titles
28Win24–4Yusuf KanguelUD1020 Nov 2021Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
27Win23–4Dominik AmeriUD825 Sep 2021Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
26Win22–4Slavisa SimeunovicKO1, 2:5421 Aug 2021Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
25Loss21–4Jack CullenUD1031 Jul 2021Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, EnglandFor vacant IBF International super-middleweight title
24Loss21–3Canelo ÁlvarezRTD3, 3:0027 Feb 2021Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, USFor WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring super-middleweight titles
23Loss21–2Anthony Dirrell10, 1:5523 Feb 2019Minneapolis Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USFor vacant WBC super-middleweight title;
Split TD: Dirrell cut from accidental head clash
22Win21–1Lolenga Mock1215 Sep 2018Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, GermanyRetained WBC International super-middleweight title
21Win20–1Jose Antonio Rodriguez1, 3:0014 Jul 2018Casa de los Clubes, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
20Win19–1Ryan FordUD1212 May 2018Nobeo Studios, Cologne, GermanyRetained WBC International super-middleweight title
19Win18–1Derek EdwardsUD123 Mar 2018Sartory Saale, Cologne, GermanyRetained WBC International super-middleweight title
18Win17–1Attila KordaTKO1, 1:3616 Dec 2017Messehalle, Straubing, Germany
17Loss16–1Chris Eubank Jr.KO3, 1:587 Oct 2017Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, GermanyFor IBO super-middleweight title;
World Boxing Super Series: super-middleweight quarter-final
16Win16–0Marco Antonio PeribánUD1213 May 2017Foro Aga de Palcco, Zapopan, MexicoWon vacant WBC International super-middleweight title
15Win15–0Aliaksandr SushchytsTKO1, 1:3618 Feb 2017Teatro Principe, Milan, ItalyRetained WBC Silver International super-middleweight title
14Win14–0Schiller HyppoliteTKO3, 2:445 Nov 2016Ballhaus Forum, Munich, GermanyWon vacant WBC Silver International super-middleweight title
13Win13–0Aaron Pryor JrUD1027 Aug 2016Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
12Win12–0Timur NikarkhoevTKO5, 2:0523 Jul 2016Iron Gym, Berlin, Germany
11Win11–0Zoltan SeraTKO2, 0:4523 May 2016Petko's Gym, Dachau, Germany
10Win10–0Jackson JuniorKO2, 2:276 May 2016Huxleys, Berlin, GermanyRetained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
9Win9–0Walter Gabriel SequeiraUD1226 Feb 2016Stadthalle, Offenbach am Main, GermanyRetained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
8Win8–0Janne Forsman1, 1:0718 Dec 2015Sport Hall, Ratingen, GermanyRetained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
7Win7–0Bernard DonfackUD1211 Oct 2015Sport Halle, Herne, GermanyRetained WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
6Win6–0Glen Johnson1015 Aug 2015Mana Studios, Miami, Florida, USWon vacant WBC Silver International light-heavyweight title
5Win5–0Steve KroekelTKO1, 0:3016 Jun 2015Arena Boxgym, Düsseldorf, Germany
4Win4–0Giorgi AduashviliTKO2, 2:5930 Apr 2015Arena Boxgym, Düsseldorf, Germany
3Win3–0Giorgi BeroshviliTKO3, 2:2927 Feb 2015Gloria Sports Arena, Antalya, Turkey
2Win2–0Aleksandar Jankovic1, 1:5814 Feb 2015 Adnan Menderes Spor Salonu, Adana, Turkey
1Win1–0Davit Ribakoni422 Mar 2014Atatürk Spor Salonu, Tekirdağ, Turkey