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Canelo Alvarez Beats Christian Mbilli by Unanimous Decision to Regain WBC Super Middleweight Title in Riyadh

Canelo Alvarez won back the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh on Saturday, beating Christian Mbilli on all three judges' cards, 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110, in his first fight since losing to Terence Crawford in September 2025.

By admin Oct. 31, 2026 · 7:45 PM ET 2 min read

An empty boxing ring with red ropes and blue canvas under bright arena lights, with a crowd seated in the darkened stands behind it.

Canelo Alvarez is a world champion again. He beat Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision in Riyadh on Saturday and took the WBC super middleweight title, with the judges scoring the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.

Two red boxing gloves resting on the canvas in the corner of a boxing ring, with white ropes and arena lights behind them.
Two red boxing gloves resting on the canvas in the corner of a boxing ring, with white ropes and arena lights behind them.

The fight took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh as the main event of a card billed as “Mexico vs. The World.” It was Alvarez’s first fight in more than a year. Terence Crawford beat him by unanimous decision on Sept. 13, 2025, and that loss cost him the undisputed super middleweight championship.

How the fight unfolded

Mbilli, 31, came forward from the start and threw more punches. Alvarez answered with his jab and counter punches, and he landed the cleaner work as the fight went on. Reuters reported that a sharp uppercut from Alvarez made Mbilli stagger in the seventh round. In the eighth round, Mbilli had a point taken away for a punch to the back of the head, according to USA Today’s round-by-round account.

A wide view of a packed indoor arena with a lit boxing ring in the center and rows of spectators around it.
A wide view of a packed indoor arena with a lit boxing ring in the center and rows of spectators around it.

After the fight, Alvarez told DAZN: “It’s so difficult to explain. It’s something unbelievable. It feels like my first title.” He thanked his team and his trainer, Eddy Reynoso. Asked what he might have done differently, he said: “I did it perfectly.”

The result moved Alvarez to 64 wins, three defeats and two draws. Mbilli fell to 29 wins, one defeat and one draw, the first defeat of his professional career. Mbilli was born in Cameroon and had been raised to full WBC champion after Crawford left the division. He entered the fight with 29 wins and one draw.

A person seen from behind in a hooded sweatshirt punching a heavy bag in a dim gym.
A person seen from behind in a hooded sweatshirt punching a heavy bag in a dim gym.

A fight staged during a security scare

The bout went ahead in Riyadh after a week in which the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted Houthi missiles and drones aimed at the capital, according to Reuters. Security concerns led to the cancellation or postponement of several Saudi events during the week. Among them was the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition. USA Today reported that an attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Oct. 10 left 13 people dead and more than 300 injured, and that one fighter, Lindolfo Delgado, withdrew from the boxing card over security fears.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and USA Today.

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