Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez is a world champion once again, and boxing fans have a lot to say after his latest performance. The Mexican superstar defeated Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reclaiming the WBC super middleweight championship and reminding the boxing world that he is far from finished.
After suffering a disappointing loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025, questions surrounded Canelo’s future. At 36 years old, could the former undisputed champion still compete against the best fighters in the world? Against Mbilli, Canelo delivered an emphatic response.
Canelo Turns Back the Clock
Mbilli entered the fight undefeated, bringing an aggressive style and relentless pressure that threatened to make the championship bout difficult for the veteran.
Early in the contest, Mbilli attempted to overwhelm Canelo with activity, forcing exchanges and looking to establish control. However, Canelo’s experience and defensive skills gradually changed the fight.
Rather than matching every punch, Canelo picked his opportunities, landed precise counterpunches and attacked the body. His ability to make Mbilli pay for his forward pressure became increasingly important as the rounds progressed.
The seventh round delivered one of the fight’s defining moments when Canelo landed a sharp uppercut that briefly staggered Mbilli. From that point forward, the Mexican star increasingly dictated the exchanges.
Mbilli continued fighting, but Canelo’s cleaner punching and ring control helped him build a decisive advantage on the judges’ scorecards.
The Scorecards Tell the Story
After 12 rounds, all three judges scored the fight for Canelo, with official scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.
The victory improved Canelo’s professional record to 64 wins, three losses and two draws. More importantly, it handed Mbilli the first defeat of his professional career.
Canelo also reclaimed the WBC super middleweight title, returning to championship status after losing his undisputed crown to Crawford.
The performance was not necessarily the most spectacular knockout victory of Canelo’s career, but it demonstrated his ability to adapt, control the pace and defeat a dangerous opponent over 12 rounds.
Who Should Canelo Fight Next?
Now that Canelo has championship gold again, attention will quickly turn toward his next opponent.
Potential challengers include Hamzah Sheeraz and Lester Martinez, although Canelo has not committed to a particular opponent. Following the victory, he indicated that he intended to rest before returning to training.
Canelo has answered his critics by becoming a world champion again. The Crawford defeat raised questions about whether his best days were behind him, but his victory over Mbilli proves he remains a major force in boxing. The next challenge will be determining whether he can build on this comeback and pursue another defining victory in his remarkable career.
