Canelo Alvarez Regains WBC Super Middleweight Title With Unanimous Decision Over Mbilli

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez won the WBC super middleweight title on Saturday by defeating Christian Mbilli via unanimous decision. The judges recorded scores of 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110 in favor of the Mexican champion. This victory marked the first professional loss for Mbilli, who now holds a record of 29-1-1. Álvarez improved his own professional record to 64-3-2.

Álvarez had not fought since losing the undisputed championship to Terence Crawford in September 2025. The return to the ring addressed questions regarding the 36-year-old’s ability to maintain his competitive edge. Facing a previously undefeated opponent who applied pressure, Álvarez relied on precise counterpunching to control the later stages of the bout.

The first half of the fight was competitive, with Mbilli pushing Álvarez to the ropes. Álvarez responded with body shots and began finding success in the sixth round with a right uppercut and a right straight. By the seventh round, an uppercut from Álvarez set the tone, followed by combinations in the eighth. The referee, Héctor Afu, deducted a point from Mbilli for a shot to the back of Álvarez’s head, complicating the Frenchman’s task.

Álvarez used his jab to manage the tenth round. Although Mbilli landed rights in the final round, Álvarez closed the fight with a right hand that caused the challenger to wobble. The boxer credited his coach, Eddy Reynoso, for instructing him to move, box, and keep his jab active. “He asked to do what ‘Canelo’ does best. And that is what I did,” Álvarez said.

When asked if Mbilli’s activity surprised him, Álvarez said he expected a strong opponent but felt he limited the challenger’s attack. “It’s hard to throw punches at me,” he emphasized. After the decision, Álvarez celebrated with an emotional tribute to his coaches, Eddy and Chepo Reynoso. He hugged Eddy Reynoso and expressed pride in his team. “I am very proud, very proud of my team,” he stated.

Álvarez also thanked his family, noting that his wife, who could not attend, had told him to return with the championship. “I won the title,” he said. He did not commit to a specific next opponent immediately after the fight. “I’m going to rest. I’m going to keep learning. I’m going to keep working hard,” he told reporters.

In the co-main event, Jaime Munguía retained his WBC super middleweight title against Nikita Zon. Munguía won by unanimous decision with scores of 117-111, 117-111, and 116-112. He improved his record to 47-2 after recovering from damage sustained in the sixth round. Rafael Espinoza defended his WBC flyweight title with a technical knockout of Ricardo Blandón in the third round at 1:22. A straight right hand cut Blandón above the left eye, prompting the referee to stop the fight on medical advice. Espinoza improved to 29-0 with 25 knockouts.

Reito Tsutsumi defeated Raymundo Rojas García by knockout in the second round at 2:27. Tsutsumi knocked down the Mexican fighter twice before the stoppage, improving his record to 6-0 with five knockouts.