AVNI VOWS TO BE THE FIRST TURKISH BOXER TO BE CROWNED WBC SULTAN

Avni Yildirim is aiming to become the first ever  Turkish boxer to win an Absolute WBC Championship belt.

By WBCnews
The precocious 24 year old, won the WBC  Youth light heavyweight title in just his third professional bout.  Three fights later he won the WBC Silver Light heavyweight crown.  A crown Prince,  who`s committed to seek an even more prestigious throne,   Avni who says his actual best weight is one division lower at super middle, is determined to make history for Turkey,  and for the Crescent to be in ascent.

Avni stresses that in order to be the best he must win boxing`s most prestigious championship. This will  realize and fulfil his dream of buckling on the coveted Green and Gold belt.

We talked to this ambitious, talented and dedicated young man and his Promoter Ahmet Oner>
1.  How did you start in boxing?
Avni Yildirim: “I enjoyed all different kinds of sports when I was at school and I have always been one of the best athletes in different sports. At age 13 a friend took me to a boxing club. It caught me right at my first training session. I knew that this is my sport.”
2.  Who were your heroes and influences on you?
Avni Yildirim: “When I was young, Sinan Samil Sam was our great hero in Turkey. We had big events in Ankara and Istanbul. I loved the media coverage and the way the fights were promoted and I thought: That is where I want to be one day.”
3.  Tell us about your amateur career.
Avni Yildirim: “I am a four-time Turkish Champion, won medals at many international tournaments like the Mediterranean Games and reached the quarterfinals at European and World Championships.”
4. When did you realize you have the talent to go all the way and become a world champion?
Avni Yildirim: “I always knew that I am strong. In 2012, when I was still an amateur, it was my goal to go to the Olympic Games. But because of boxing politics the Turkish Federation sent somebody else. That is when I thought that it is time to turn professional. I also thought that my aggressive style would help me. I knew that I would be successful.”
5.  How important was it to defeat Timur Nikarkhoev?
Avni Yildirim: “Timur was a strong opponent and it was very important for me to fight and beat an unbeaten opponent. I wanted to prove that I can do to him what I did to experienced guys like Glen Johnson before. I don’t want people to think that I only fight old guys or has-beens. I can also go in there with young and hungry opponents like myself. It was important to show that I don’t care who my opponent is. I am not cherry-picking. I will fight anybody who comes my way.”
6.  Next you are going to be fighting Aaron Pryor Jr…the son of a boxing legend!
Avni Yildirim: “I am not fighting the legendary father but the son. And nothing I have seen of him so far looked very special. He has been in the ring with good opponents – but he lost to them. He will be just another name in my record. And of course, I will beat him.”
7.  Why is winning the World Boxing Council green and gold belt so very and essentially important to you?
Avni Yildirim: “The WBC is the biggest and best organization in boxing by far. It’s the only organization that counts and matters. And the Green and Gold Belt is the ultimate prize in boxing. Everybody knows that. If you want to call yourself World Champion you have to win the Green and Gold Belt.”
8.  You are the WBC silver light heavyweight champion, but you also fight at super middleweight.  Which is your preferred weight and the one at which you will seek a WBC championship?
Avni Yildirim: “I feel comfortable at super middleweight. I started at light heavy and I proved that I can also be successful at 175 lbs,  but 168 lbs. is where I belong.”
9.  What is your best punch and what qualities do you have that will help you become a world Champion?
Avni Yildirim: “My left uppercut is probably my best punch. But my straight right has also improved a lot. My biggest quality in the ring is that I always move forward. I have no fear and there is no stepping back. I am applying a lot of pressure and also fight my opponents mentally because I don’t back off. It’s very exhausting to fight somebody who keeps coming at you regardless of what you are throwing at him.”
10. Has there ever been a Turkish WBC Absolute World Champion?
Avni Yildirim: “Sinan Samil Sam has been a role model but we never had a Turkish World Champion. I will be the first!”
11.  How has Ahmet Oner been able to help you?
Avni Yildirim: “I wouldn’t be here without him. He is always pushing me forward and he gives me the power to do what I am doing. He made me who I am and brought me to this point. And he will make me World Champion. Whenever people hear my name it is because of Ahmet Oner and I want everybody to know that my name will always be linked to his name.”
12.  What would it mean to you and your family to be WBC Champion of the World?
Avni Yildirim: “There are no words to describe how proud I would be. There has never been anything like this in Turkey. I would make my family and people proud. I cannot think of anything even closely like that.”

Questions for Ahmet:

1.  How did you identify and recognize Avni`s great talent?
Ahmet Oner: “In February 2015, Avni made his third pro fight on my show in Antalya. I was there for Solis vs. Thompson but when I saw Avni in the ring I knew that he was special. He fought for the WBC Youth Intercontinental title and literally blew his opponent away. He showed outstanding talent for a guy who had never trained professionally.”
2.  How is Avni progressing?
Ahmet Oner: “He is doing great. I couldn’t be prouder. He does whatever I ask him to do. He listens and learns and he wants to get better every day. His jab improved a lot. Actually, he didn’t have a jab when I started working with him. Of course, he isn’t perfect yet. We still have a lot of work to do. But it is fantastic to see how fast he learns.”
3.  What are the next steps for Avni, and when will it be time for him to fight for the Absolute WBC green and gold belt?
Ahmet Oner: “He fight Aaron Pryor jr. in August. That will be another important step against a tall opponent. We’ll see what happens after that. Maybe Callum Smith? Who knows? I think Avni can be ready to fight for the World Championship by the end of this year or in early 2017 in his 14th or 15th pro fight – if we get the chance.”
4.  What are Avni`s qualities that stand out for you?
Ahmet Oner: “He is the first boxer I have worked with who is willing to go over the limits of his capability in every single training session. It doesn’t matter if it’s boxing, running, strength training or conditioning. He has the will to succeed and he is ready to invest everything. In many aspects, he is the most passionate fighter I have ever seen.”
5. What sort of person is this young man?
Ahmet Oner: “Inside the ring, he is a machine. That’s why I call him “Mr. Robot”. But outside the ring he is the most humble and respectful person you will ever meet. Just a great guy and the perfect son-in-law.”