Canelo Alvarez wins 117-110 to reclaim WBC belt

Canelo Alvarez defeated Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to recapture the WBC super middleweight title. The three judges scored the bout 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112 in favor of the Mexican champion. Alvarez, 36, had not fought in more than a year, having lost to Terence Crawford in September 2025 and undergone elbow surgery during that period.

The fight marked Alvarez’s return to the top of the 168-pound division. He credited his head coach, Eddy Reynoso, for the game plan, stating that the structure allowed him to execute his strengths. Alvarez described the preparation as focused on movement and the jab, noting that he knew Mbilli was a strong fighter but found it difficult for him to land punches against him.

Mbilli entered the bout with a record of 29-1-1 and 24 knockouts. He attempted to impose early pressure but appeared to lack clear offensive ideas by the seventh round. According to CompuBox data, Alvarez landed 132 power punches compared to Mbilli's 99. Referee Hector Afu deducted one point from Mbilli in the eighth round for illegal blows, further extending the margin of victory.

In the third round, Alvarez taunted Mbilli from the ropes, waving him forward to encourage more combinations. While Mbilli complied, his energy levels declined in the middle rounds. Alvarez never appeared to seek a knockout finish, a pattern consistent with his recent career as he fights into his mid-30s. In the final round, he walked to the center of the ring and beat his chest after landing a right hand, signaling his control of the bout.

Alvarez expressed strong emotions after the decision, comparing the feeling to winning his first professional title 16 years ago. He said the experience was difficult to explain and that he was proud to hold the belt again after 31 years as a professional. The victory provides him with several options for future opponents.

Potential next fights include a matchup against super middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz, a rematch with light heavyweight champion Dimitry Bivol, or a bout against WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez. Alvarez has stated his intention to fight several more times before his final career bout takes place in Mexico.

The contest served as the main event for a nine-fight card promoted as Mexico vs. The World. Despite Alvarez's win, the undercard results favored Team World, which outscored Team Mexico 5-4 across the nine bouts.