Turkish, US boxers to vie for world boxing title

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL

Turkish boxer Avni Yildirim will vie against U.S.’ Anthony Dirrell to claim the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Middleweight Championship title in February.

The former WBC Super Middleweight Champion Dirrell and Yildirim will meet on Feb. 23 in Minneapolis, the U. S., for the belt left vacant by David Benavidez’s suspension, Premier Boxing Champions -- a television series -- announced late Tuesday.

Dirrell would meet Benavidez for the WBC belt, but the latter failed a drug test and was suspended. Yildirim will replace Benavidez against Dirrell.

If Yildirim won, he would become the first Turkish WBC Super Middleweight Champion.