Canelo Alvarez Reclaims WBC Crown with Masterful Decision Over Christian Mbilli

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Canelo Alvarez recaptured the WBC super-middleweight championship Saturday night, delivering a vintage performance built on surgical counterpunching and a dominant second half to defeat previously unbeaten Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision.

The judges scored the contest 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110 in favor of Alvarez, handing Mbilli the first loss of his professional career. The victory improves Alvarez to 64-3-2, while Mbilli drops to 29-1-1.

Returning to the ring for the first time since surrendering his undisputed crown to Terence Crawford in September 2025, the 36-year-old Mexican star silenced doubts about his championship viability. Against a relentless opponent whose volume and pressure tested Alvarez’s conditioning and resolve, the veteran adjusted beautifully, seizing control through superior accuracy and timing as the fight wore on.

“Oh, it’s so difficult to explain,” Alvarez said afterward. “It’s something unbelievable.”

Mbilli’s aggression and high work rate made the opening rounds competitive, frequently backing Alvarez toward the ropes. Alvarez absorbed the pressure, answering with sharp body shots and counters before shifting momentum definitively in the sixth round behind a piercing right uppercut and a straight right hand.

The rhythm of the bout changed thereafter. Alvarez increasingly dictated the exchanges, forcing Mbilli to react to his offense and disrupting the challenger’s advances with cleaner, heavier shots. At moments, Alvarez lowered his guard to invite engagement, baiting Mbilli into counter range.

An emphatic uppercut punctuated the seventh round for Alvarez, who followed with sustained combinations in the eighth. Mbilli’s task grew steeper in the ninth when referee Hector Afu deducted a point for a punch to the back of Alvarez’s head.

Alvarez’s jab governed the action in the 10th. Though Mbilli continued to attack the body and landed right hands in the final stanza, Alvarez closed the show emphatically, staggering the French-Cameroonian with a late right hand.

Alvarez credited trainer Eddy Reynoso’s game plan — emphasizing movement, boxing fundamentals, and a consistent jab.

“Do what Canelo do the best. And that’s what I did,” Alvarez said.

Asked if Mbilli surprised him, Alvarez acknowledged the challenge but insisted he had neutralized the younger man’s offense.

“It’s difficult to throw punches with me,” he said.

The post-fight celebration revealed a raw emotional side rarely seen from the normally stoic champion. A tearful Alvarez shared a prolonged embrace with Eddy Reynoso, paying tribute to both Eddy and his father, Chepo Reynoso, for shaping his career.

“I’m so proud, so proud of my team,” Alvarez said, his gratitude extending to his family watching from home. He joked that his wife, unable to attend, had instructed him not to return without the belt. “I won the title,” he said with a smile.

Alvarez offered no immediate timeline for his next assignment.

“I’m gonna rest. I’m gonna keep learning. I’m gonna keep working hard,” he said.

In the co-main event, Jaime Munguia survived a sixth-round scare to retain his WBA super-middleweight title against Nikita Zon via unanimous decision (117-111, 117-111, 116-112). Munguia recovered after being hurt to improve to 47-2.

Rafael Espinoza defended his WBO featherweight crown with a third-round technical knockout of Ricardo Blandon. A straight right opened a cut above Blandon’s left eye, prompting the ringside physician to advise the stoppage at 1:22. Espinoza moves to 29-0 with 25 knockouts.

Earlier, Reito Tsutsumi scored two second-round knockdowns en route to stopping Raymundo Rojas Garcia at 2:27, improving his record to 6-0 with five knockouts.

Source link