Canelo reclaims title with vintage win over Mbilli

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight title with a vintage performance against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh.

Just over one year since losing his belts to Terance Crawford, Mexican pound-for-pound great Alvarez returned to action with a confident victory by unanimous decision.

The 36-year-old, in his 69th professional fight, showed trademark slick defence and counter punching as he outclassed Mbilli to win 115–112, 116–111, 117–110 on the judges' scorecards.

It was the 64th victory of four-weight world champion Alvarez's illustrious career, while 31-year-old Mbilli suffered his first defeat in 31 bouts.

"It's so difficult to explain," said Alvarez.

"It's something unbelievable, this feeling. Like my first title. Thirty-one years as a professional. Sixteen years ago, I won my first title. Now, I won the title again. I'm so proud."

Doubts had been raised in recent weeks about whether the event could safely go ahead due to the growing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement.

Just two days before the fight, Saudi Press Agency reported the Civil Defence had intercepted two ballistic missiles over Riyadh.

Earlier in October, a missile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.

While other sporting events in Saudi Arabia - including The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, the final round of the 2026 World Rally Championship and the 2026 Urban Cycling World Championships - have been cancelled, the combat sports world has not followed suit.

Cameroon-born Mbilli, who trains in Canada, was making the first defence of his WBC title after being elevated to champion in January.

Alvarez, meanwhile, was competing for the first time without a world title to his name since 2015.

Pundits had questioned whether Alvarez's skills were declining following defeat by Crawford and over a year out of the ring, but his response was emphatic.

Mbilli pressured Alvarez in the early stages, peppering him against the ropes, with the Mexican looking to land big counters.

Alvarez responded by dismissively shaking his head to shrug off their impact, before goading Mbilli into attacking again.

Although Mbilli was throwing more punches, it was Alvarez who was landing the harder shots, with a couple of big right uppercuts finding the mark in round six.

The pattern continued in the next few rounds, with Alvarez countering the busy but largely ineffective Mbilli, before the defending champion was dealt a further blow by being docked a point for hits to the back of the head.

From there Alvarez cruised to the finish line with Mbilli continuing to push forward but posing little threat to the Mexican.

Alvarez's defence and timing of punches was too slick throughout, and although Mbilli landed a couple of stinging right hands in the closing stages, it was in vain.

Alvarez did not mention who he wants to fight next in his post-fight interview, but hinted at a quick return to training.

"I'm going to rest. I'm going to keep learning. I'm going to keep working hard," said Alvarez.

"And right now I'm going to be a couple of weeks off and then come back."