What changed
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight title by beating Christian Mbilli on points in Riyadh.
The judges scored it 115–112, 116–111 and 117–110. Alvarez, 36, secured his 64th professional victory, while Mbilli suffered his first defeat in 31 fights.
Why it matters
This was Alvarez’s answer to the question hanging over him since Terence Crawford took his belts just over a year ago: could the four-weight champion still control a major fight?
Against Mbilli, he did. Mbilli pressed forward and threw more, but Alvarez’s defence, timing and counterpunching repeatedly turned that pressure against him. Big right uppercuts in the sixth round helped shift the fight, and Mbilli was later docked a point for striking the back of Alvarez’s head.
The result restores Alvarez as a world champion and ends Mbilli’s unbeaten run just as he began his first defence after becoming champion in January. It also keeps Alvarez’s career moving after more than a year away from the ring.
The fight went ahead despite recent security concerns in Riyadh, including reported missile interceptions and an earlier strike on the city’s airport. Other sporting events in Saudi Arabia had been cancelled, but this contest continued.
Alvarez said he would take a couple of weeks off before returning to training. His next opponent and fight date remain unknown.
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