Mbilli 'ready to shock the world' against Canelo

PARIS: French boxer Christian Mbilli said Thursday he is "coming for the win" when he takes to the ring to defend his WBC super-middleweight title against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

He will meet the 36-year-old Mexican legend on Saturday in Riyadh.

"I can't wait to be in the ring. I am ready for this fight, I am ready to shock the world," Mbilli said.

"I have a big respect for Canelo and his whole career but on Saturday, it will be a different story and I am coming for the win," the 31-year-old added.

Formerly the king of the division, Canelo was dethroned by the American Terence Crawford in September 2025 during a memorable bout in Saudi Arabia.

Cameroon-born French boxer Mbilli first won the interim WBC title by knocking out Poland's Maciej Sulecki in June 2025.

The full WBC belt then became vacant when Crawford lost the title following a dispute with the World Boxing Council. The WBC elevated Mbilli from interim to full WBC super-middleweight champion in January 2026.

For the first time since 2022, Canelo (63 wins, including 39 KOs, three defeats, two draws) will enter a fight as the challenger.

"I have been a champion many years and I want to be a champion again and I want to face the best," Canelo said.

"I am the challenger now, but always in my mind I am the champion, since I was a little kid."

The fight in Saudi Arabia, which had been the subject of numerous rumours of postponement or relocation, is set to go ahead despite drone and missile attacks targeting the kingdom.

The Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government have exchanged daily attacks since a years-long truce fell apart over the summer. In recent weeks, the group has ramped up attacks on Saudi Arabia. - AFP