Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez regains WBC super middleweight title

Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez reclaimed the WBC super middleweight world championship after defeating Christian Mbilli by decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following the victory, Álvarez shared a social media post showcasing his extensive collection of championship belts, noting that his display case could no longer accommodate them all.

During the bout at The Venue, Mbilli initially attempted to take the initiative in the early rounds, but Álvarez utilized his experience to counter the Frenchman. Álvarez increased his output in the sixth round with body and face combinations, followed by a significant right hand in the seventh round. Official CompuBox statistics recorded Álvarez landing 158 of 504 punches, including 132 power shots, while Mbilli landed 127 of 724 attempts.

American boxer David Benavídez criticized the performance, suggesting that Álvarez’s defensive strategy lacked the aggression expected for a fight with such high financial stakes. Benavídez argued that given the reported purses of 40 to 50 million dollars, Álvarez should have sought a knockout through continuous pressure rather than relying on counterpunching.