Avni Yildirim appeals for rematch with Anthony Dirrell

Avni Yildirim has filed an appeal with the WBC, hoping to get an immediate rematch with Anthony Dirrell after their fight last Saturday night in Minnesota.

Dirrell beat Yildirim to claim the vacant WBC super middleweight title via technical decision, with the fight stopped and going to the scorecards in the 10th round. Dirrell won two cards, 96-94, with Yildirim taking the third on a tally of 98-92.

Yildirim had this to say in a statement:

“My dream of becoming the first world champion from Turkey was finished but not with a clear ending. I accept the result. I don’t ask to change the result of the fight. I please ask for WBC to support a direct rematch. I respect Dirrell and I know he wants to fight me again to show in the ring who is the best with a final and clear ending. ... The fight did not finish. Round 10 did not finish and I lost on the scorecards of two judges because round 10 was scored for Dirrell, but round was not finished. If I win round 10 then fight was a draw.”

Yildirim’s case is pretty fair, logically speaking, but it’s boxing, which isn’t always a logical sport. And it’s Dirrell (33-1-1, 24 KO) who probably has the bigger and better connections in the sport, not Yildirim (21-2, 12 KO).

Dirrell said before the fight that he was considering retirement, and that he wants the biggest money fights available, which frankly isn’t a rematch with Yildirim. He also stated before the fight that belts are secondary to money in his view, so even if the WBC were to order a rematch, it doesn’t mean one would happen. Dirrell could, in theory, vacate the belt and fight someone else for more money.