Canelo Alvarez Dominates Christian Mbilli in Riyadh to Reclaim WBC Super Middleweight Title

Mexico's Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has successfully defended his WBC super middleweight world championship title, defeating France's Christian Mbilli in a commanding performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The veteran Mexican boxer secured a 12-round decision victory on Sunday, marking his return to the ring after a previous loss to American Terence Crawford in September 2025. This win reclaims the WBC title that Mbilli had been elevated to in January.

The fight proceeded despite the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis. Alvarez, 36, expressed profound emotion after receiving the belt, stating, “It’s so difficult to explain. It’s something unbelievable. It feels like my first title, now, after 20, 21 years as a professional.” This victory adds another significant title to Alvarez's illustrious career, which spans 20 years and multiple weight divisions.

The bout began as a closely contested match, but Alvarez's superior ringcraft became evident in the latter half. By the seventh round, Alvarez had significantly pressured Mbilli, landing a decisive uppercut that left the Frenchman reeling. Mbilli also had a point deducted in the eighth round for a foul, further diminishing his momentum. Alvarez, the 31-year-old French challenger, struggled to regain control as the experienced Mexican dictated the pace of the fight from the ninth round onwards.

Alvarez acknowledged the unique circumstances, thanking his family who watched from afar for the first time, hinting at the security situation. The judges scored the bout decisively in Alvarez's favor with scores of 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110.