Canelo Alvarez regains WBC super-middleweight title

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defeated Christian Mbilli via unanimous decision on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to reclaim the WBC super-middleweight championship. The victory marks Alvarez’s return to the ring following a 13-month hiatus after his defeat to Terence Crawford in September 2025.

During the bout, Alvarez utilized sharp counterpunching and defensive movement to control the pace, though he did not secure a knockout. Mbilli, representing France, suffered his first professional loss and was penalized one point in the eighth round for a blow to the back of the head.

Following the win, discussions regarding Alvarez’s future have emerged. Potential matchups for 2027 include a rematch against Terence Crawford, a fight against Dmitry Bivol, or challenges from rising contenders such as Hamzah Sheeraz, Osleys Iglesias, or Lester Martinez.

Boxer David Benavidez criticized Alvarez’s performance, suggesting that given his high earnings, he should have applied more aggressive pressure to seek a stoppage rather than relying on counterpunching.