In Riyadh, Canelo Alvarez reclaims WBC belt after defeating Mbilli by unanimous decision

Alvarez wins on the scorecards

Alvarez, a Mexican veteran, earned the decision over French fighter Christian Mbilli to take back the WBC super middleweight belt in Saudi Arabia. The judges’ scores were 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110, all in Alvarez’s favour.

The title adds to Alvarez’s collection across weight classes from light middleweight to light heavyweight. His career has lasted 20 years.

A return after Crawford defeat

The Riyadh bout marked Alvarez’s first appearance in the ring since Terence Crawford defeated him in September 2025. That loss ended Alvarez’s reign as holder of the division’s four major titles. Before the fight, Alvarez had not competed since that setback against the American.

Momentum shifts during fight

Alvarez looked composed in the opening round, but Mbilli became more active by the third, throwing combinations. Alvarez showed greater ringcraft in the sixth, then increased the pressure in the seventh. He trapped Mbilli against the ropes and landed a right uppercut that left the Frenchman unsteady.

Family watching from afar

Alvarez referred to the security situation while thanking his family, who were watching from a distance. He said they were watching him “from afar today for the first time,” according to the article.