Canelo reclaims WBC super-middleweight title with unanimous decision over Mbilli

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight title by unanimous decision over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on 31 October 2026, with the judges scoring the bout 115–112, 116–111 and 117–110.

Just over one year after losing his belts to Terence Crawford, the 36-year-old Alvarez recorded the 64th victory of his career in his 69th professional fight, while 31-year-old Mbilli suffered his first defeat in 31 bouts. Mbilli, Cameroon-born and training in Canada, was making the first defence of the WBC title he received after being elevated in January; Alvarez was competing for the first time without a world title since 2015. The build-up to the fight was shadowed by security concerns linked to the growing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement, including Saudi reports that Civil Defence intercepted two ballistic missiles over Riyadh two days before the bout and an earlier missile strike on King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. Several other sporting events in Saudi Arabia — The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, the final round of the 2026 World Rally Championship and the 2026 Urban Cycling World Championships — have been cancelled, but the combat sports date went ahead.

Alvarez relied on slick defence and counter-punching to control the contest, repeatedly making Mbilli pay for forward forays. Mbilli applied early pressure, pinning Alvarez to the ropes at times, while Alvarez sought big counters and at one point dismissed a series of blows by shaking his head before goading Mbilli back into attack. Although Mbilli threw more punches, Alvarez landed the heavier shots, including a pair of right uppercuts that connected in round six and changed the tempo.

The pattern persisted over the middle rounds, with Alvarez countering a busy but largely ineffective challenger. The defending champion was docked a point for hits to the back of the head, after which Alvarez maintained control and moved steadily to the finish. Mbilli continued to press in the closing stages and landed a couple of stinging right hands, but could not overturn Alvarez's advantage.

"It's so difficult to explain," said Alvarez. "It's something unbelievable, this feeling. Like my first title. Thirty-one years as a professional. Sixteen years ago, I won my first title. Now, I won the title again. I'm so proud."

Alvarez did not name a next opponent in his post-fight comments but indicated he would return to training swiftly, saying: "I'm going to rest. I'm going to keep learning. I'm going to keep working hard," and adding, "And right now I'm going to be a couple of weeks off and then come back."