Canelo Alvarez is back in action on Halloween 2026, gunning for the WBC super middleweight title he lost a year ago when Terence Crawford ended his six-fight win streak. This isn’t just another comeback fight; Canelo is looking to reclaim gold, and he’s bringing some serious firepower to his training camp.
Canelo’s Unprecedented Camp to Reclaim Gold
Canelo, with a formidable 63-3-2 record, is a multi-time undisputed super middleweight champion. After that tough loss to Crawford, he’s not messing around. He’s teamed up with coach Eddy Reynoso, sure, but he’s also brought in another all-time great, Oleksandr Usyk, for strength and conditioning. That’s a partnership that should make any boxing fan sit up and pay attention. Canelo himself confirms it, saying via The Ring, “In strength and conditioning, I am learning new things. I appreciate them because they put all of their energy into me and are doing everything based on what [my head coach] Eddy Reynoso needs for boxing. That’s very good.”
His stats back up his power. Among active fighters, Canelo ranks eighth in +/- at 12.3. He’s seventh with a power connect percentage of 44.9% and tenth in pound-for-pound rankings for average total punches landed per round, also at 12.3. His landing percentage is the third-highest at 71.5%. Opponent-wise, Canelo’s foes land 9.3 punches per round, which somehow ranks as both the sixth-highest and sixth-fewest. Interesting, right?
But a year away from the ring is a long time. His last fights before Crawford were considered target practice against Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia. Against William Scull, they threw a combined 445 punches, the fewest in a 12-round fight, because Scull didn’t press. And against Crawford, Canelo connected with 99 shots (29.3% connect rate) compared to Crawford’s 115 (21.5% connect rate). Crawford landed 45 jabs to Canelo’s 16. Crawford was a calculating fighter, but Mbilli is a different animal. Canelo will absolutely be tested.
Mbilli’s Undefeated Threat and Relentless Pressure
Christian Mbilli is no pushover. He’s walking in with an intimidating 29-0-1 record, including 24 knockout wins. The former interim champion believes he’s being underestimated, and he’s out to absolutely spoil Canelo’s grand return. “I’m a very dangerous fighter for him, but I have to be careful, he’s Canelo. I’m going to put more pressure, more combinations, I’m going to work my defense too,” Mbilli declared on the Mr. Verzace podcast via DAZN. He even promised, “He will regret being in the ring.” Talk about confidence!
Mbilli’s fighting style is all about coming forward and volume. Per ESPN, he lands about 30.4 body shots per round and 3.8 jabs per round. In his fight against former contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Mbilli landed 215 of 696 shots (30.9%) and never let up, even though Derevyanchenko was hampered by a biceps injury. However, in a draw against Lester Martinez, Mbilli landed 273 of 787 shots, while Martinez landed a significant 412 of 980. That draw shows he can be hit, but his pressure is constant.
The big question here is if Canelo, after a year out, can deflect Mbilli’s punishing blows. More importantly, can he glide and counter with his own signature power shots? Sporting News predicts a unanimous decision win for Canelo, believing he will dictate the pace and secure the victory, further cementing his status as one of boxing’s best. When these two step into the ring on Halloween, it’s Canelo’s shot to reclaim what’s his, or Mbilli’s chance to shock the world and prove he’s the future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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