Yildirim’s coach: “I am the colonel, he is my Rambo”
Coach Ahmet Öner is ready to send his boxer Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs) into war against Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1, 19 KOs) on October 7 at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, Germany.
“Our relationship is like a colonel and a soldier,” said Ahmet Öner. “Sometimes I call him John Rambo, and I am Colonel Trautman. He is my Rambo, I made him and I am very happy with what I’ve made.”
The former light heavyweight, now coach and manager, believes that his fighter can go all the way to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy. The first obstacle is Chris Eubank Jr., but Öner does not see the British IBO Champion as a serious threat in the battle for the Greatest Prize in Boxing.
“I do not fear Eubank Jr. He has nothing to stop Avni. Eubank is a kid, a spoiled kid who thinks he is a brave tough guy, he is not. His father was an actor and a fighter with good power punches. Eubank Jr. has good movement, but he has no power. Eubank Jr. is a cheap version of Floyd Mayweather. He thinks he is Mayweather, but he is not,” said Öner.
“Avni never gives up. The word ‘brave’ describes Avni. He is Braveheart, he is like Rambo. Many of the other fighters in the tournament they care for the money, that is not Avni. Avni’s dream is to become a world recognized fighter. He wants to be a hero, he loves when people pay attention to him. Boxing is a tool to achieve this. He does not care for the money, he cares for the glory.”
Tickets for the World Boxing Super Series’ quarter-final bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Avni Yildirim in Stuttgart are on sale ranging from €21 to €250 at eventim.de and easyticket.de.
Heated press conference: Eubank Jr. and Yildirim head-to-head in Stuttgart
British IBO Champion Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1, 19 KOs) and Turkish challenger Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs) exchanged words at a kickoff press conference in Stuttgart before their quarter-final bout on October 7 at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, Germany.
The kickoff press conference for one of the most exciting match-ups in the World Boxing Super Series did not disappoint when it comes to verbal punches from both sides. Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Avni Yildirim is clearly a fight between a British fighter eager to prove himself as the best in the world, and a proud Turk who believes he can shock the boxing world and overshadow everyone in the Ali Trophy tournament.
Chris Eubank Jr. (27): “This is the first fight for me in this tournament and I am here to make a statement. I am the man, and I am the man to beat. There will be no mercy for Yildirim, I am here to win. I am not here to make friends, I am not here to look pretty and be a celebrity, I am here in this tournament to become the champion.”
“I am very much looking forward to this fight. I think it is a great match-up. Styles make fights, and the reason I picked this man at the Draft Gala in Monaco is that he is a fighter, he comes forward, he is very active, he is very open, he takes risks, which he will pay for in this fight. I can’t wait!”
“I have a goal, I have a challenge that I have to complete, and that is to win to the Muhammad Ali Trophy and prove that I am the best in world.”
Avni Yildirim (26): “This tournament is a chance for me to fight the best in the world. It is an honor for me to compete against these guys, all giants in the super middleweight division. I respect Chris Eubank Jr. and his champion status, but I will tell him one thing: I am going to make my country proud.”
“I am here to make a dream come true, and I do not see anyone take that dream away from me. I am here to destroy everyone in this tournament. I am not an Instagram or Facebook fighter like Eubank Jr. I am Avni Yildirim, and I am here to destroy, I will do anything to win this fight and win this tournament.”
“I feel good, I am very prepared. Let’s fight!”
After the opening statements Yildirim claimed he never really heard of Eubank Jr. through his years in boxing since beginning at the age 13, and the Briton replied with a quote from the time when Mike Tyson dominated inside and outside the ring: “Do you want to know who I am? I am the baddest man on the planet!”
Said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer: “We are looking very forward to bringing the Ali Trophy and the World Boxing Super Series to Stuttgart on the 7th of October. The Ali Trophy is a very special tournament, a tournament with a total prize money of 50 million dollars.”
“It is a quarter-final fight, a fight where Chris Eubank Jr. picked his opponent Avni Yildirim, an undefeated challenger from Turkey, In his last fight Yildirim beat a Mexican in Mexico, that says a lot about Yildirim. In Chris’ last fight he made a master class performance at Wembley against Arthur Abraham. So it is two absolute fighting men. absolute talents that belong in the World Boxing Super Series. We are looking forward to a tremendous fight!”
Tickets on sale! Eubank Jr. and Yildirim ready for October 7 in Stuttgart
The battle for the inaugural 168lb (76,2 kg) Muhammad Ali Trophy comes to Stuttgart, Germany on October 7 when IBO-Champion Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1-0, 19 KOs) meets Turkish Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs) in a quarter-final bout at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle and tickets are now on sale ranging from €21 to €250 at StubHub.de, eventim.de and easyticket.de.
“I am looking forward to fighting in Germany,” said 27-year old Eubank Jr. “It really doesn’t matter to me where I fight as long as I get the win that is all I care about. I have been training at Floyd Mayweather’s camp in the US the last weeks, and I could not have asked for better preparations before entering the World Boxing Super Series.”
26-year old Avni Yildirim from Istanbul, Turkey is excited about fighting in Stuttgart.
“I am very happy that the fight is in Stuttgart because for me it is like a second Turkey and I am looking forward to entertaining the crowd,” said Yildirim. “Training is going great, I know what I have to do. I have been training really hard, and I am fully focused on this.”
“It is a great honour for me to be a part of this tournament. If I did not have the skills to win I would not be a part of the World Boxing Super Series and I believe I have what it takes to win,” said Yildirim.
Eubank Jr., the British third seed was represented by Chris Eubank Senior at the Draft Gala in Monaco July 8 and the boxing legend chose the upcoming Turk as his son’s or Arthur Abraham’s quarter-final opponent in the World Boxing Super Series. Eubanks Jr. won the WBSS slot by outpointing the German veteran at the Wembley Arena July 15.
The fight against Abraham went the distance, but against Yildirim Eubank has seen an opportunity to settle the fight earlier.
“Yildirim’s chin has not been tested, I will test it to the absolute limit and if it has even the slightest bit of weakness he will not last six rounds,” said Eubank Jr.
The battle for the inaugural 168lb (76,2 kg) Muhammad Ali Trophy comes to Stuttgart, Germany on October 7 when IBO-Champion Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1-0, 19 KOs) meets Turkish Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs) in a quarter-final bout at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle.
“The Muhammad Ali Trophy is a great idea and I am thrilled to be a part of the World Boxing Super Series,” said 27-year old Eubank Jr.
“I don’t mind about fighting in Germany. I honestly don’t mind where I fight. I could be fighting in a phone box. It really doesn’t matter to me as long as I get the win that’s all I care about.”
The British third seed was represented by Chris Eubank Senior at the Draft Gala in Monaco July 8 and the boxing legend chose the upcoming Turk as his son’s or Arthur Abraham’s quarter-final opponent in the World Boxing Super Series. Eubanks Jr. won the WBSS slot by outpointing the German veteran at the Wembley Arena July 15.
The fight against Abraham went the distance, but against Yildirim Eubank eyes an opportunity to settle the match earlier.
“Yildirim’s chin hasn’t been tested, I will test it to the absolute limit and if it has even the slightest bit of weakness he won’t last six rounds,” said Eubank Jr.
26-year old Avni Yildirim from Istanbul, Turkey is excited about fighting in Stuttgart.
“I am very happy that the fight is in Stuttgart because for me it is like a second Turkey,” said Yildirim. “Training is going great, I know what I have to do. I have been training really hard already, I am fully focused on this. Chris should be too.”
The Turkish fighter is anything but impressed by the news on Eubank Jr. joining Floyd Mayweather’s training camp in the US ahead of the American’s fight with Conor McGregor.
“What is Chris going to learn there, apart from hide-and-seek? I like Mayweather, he is a special guy. But Eubank is not Mayweather. Seriously, what is he going to learn from a welterweight, to run away for 12 rounds? The fans want a fight, I want a fight! If he is man enough, me versus Chris will be a good fight.”
Eubank Jr. joins Mayweather’s camp before facing Yildirim at the World Boxing Super Series
Chris Eubank Jr. is warming up for his WBSS quarter-final clash against Turkish Avni Yilderim with Floyd Mayweather and the Money Team.
“I have trained with Floyd and the Money Team on and off for years now,” said Chris Eubank Jr.
“It is Floyd’s last ever training camp and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be a part of that. So I booked my flight and I’ll be at the Mayweather Boxing Gym until the beginning of September,” said the British IBO super middleweight champion.
While Eubank Jr. is preparing himself for the battle of the 168lb (76,2 kg) Muhammad Ali Trophy, Mayweather is focusing on another much anticipated fight against UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor.
“I will be ringside for the big fight against McGregor. I haven’t been this intrigued to watch a fight in years. Nobody really knows what’s going to happen and that’s what I think makes it so appealing.”
Eubank Jr. booked his ticket to the World Boxing Super Series after his hard-fought unanimous decision over Arthur Abraham at the Wembley Arena July 15, and since then he has remained in training.
“It was straight back to the gym after the Abraham fight. No rest for the wicked,” said Eubank Jr.