Boxing: Christian Mbilli finally faces the decisive moment against Mexican Saul "Canelo" Alvarez
World champion Christian Mbilli will defend his WBC super middleweight title against Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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After years of waiting, French boxer Christian Mbilli, the WBC super middleweight champion, is finally set to face Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. At 31, he considers himself "at the peak of his career." "I believe my entire journey has led me to this moment," he told AFP. "Moreover, Canelo is now 36, with over 20 years of professional experience. I’m sure I would have wanted this fight five years ago, but looking back, I have improved over the last five years while he has experienced a decline. I guess life has a way of working things out.”
“I discovered all the politics surrounding boxing”
After spending a long time in the shadow of big names, Christian Mbilli is now one of the most sought-after boxers. “For me, this is the reward for years of sacrifices,” he emphasizes. “When I arrived in Canada, I thought it was enough to beat everyone to reach the title. Ultimately, I discovered the complexity surrounding boxing. It was necessary to create opportunities and, above all, know how to seize them at the right moment. My team has also played a crucial role because apparently, hitting everyone doesn’t always guarantee a chance! But today, here we are, and I believe the fight against Canelo will confirm what we have known for several years, even if it hasn’t always been heard by everyone.”
Holder of the WBC interim super middleweight title (-76.2 kg) since June 2025, Mbilli, who holds French, Cameroonian, and Canadian nationalities, was elevated to official world champion last January, reclaiming the title from American Terence Crawford, who is now retired. Canelo, the king of the division for many years, was dethroned by Crawford in September 2025 during a memorable fight in Saudi Arabia. For the first time since 2022, the 35-year-old Mexican (63 wins including 39 K.O., 3 losses, 2 draws) will enter the ring as a challenger.
First pro fight on February 9, 2017
Christian Mbilli was born on April 26, 1995, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Raised by his mother, he had a difficult childhood. When he arrived in France in 2006 in Montargis, he initially played football before joining the local boxing club at the age of 15. From then on, he clearly displayed his ambition to become a world champion.
Christian Mbilli was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Rio 2016 Olympic boxing tournament in the under-75 kg category, losing on points to reigning world champion, Cuban Arlen Lopez. Right after the Olympics in Brazil, he flew to Quebec, where he launched his professional career alongside renowned coach Marc Ramsay. He fought his first pro match on February 9, 2017. Christian Mbilli is now the most active boxer of the Rio 2016 generation.
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