Mbilli ‘ready to shock the world’ against Canelo

French boxer Christian Mbilli on Thursday said he is “coming for the win” when he takes to the ring to defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight title against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

He is to meet the 36-year-old Mexican legend in Riyadh today.

“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.”

Boxer Christian Mbilli of France attends a news conference in Riyadh on Thursday ahead of his bout today.

Photo: AFP

Formerly the king of the division, Canelo was dethroned by the American Terence Crawford in September last year 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 last year.

The full WBC belt became vacant when Crawford lost the title following a dispute with the council.

The WBC elevated Mbilli from interim to full WBC super-middleweight champion in January.

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 rumors of postponement or relocation, is set to go ahead despite drone and missile attacks targeting the kingdom.