Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is officially back at the top, dethroning Christian Mbilli with a dominant unanimous decision win in Riyadh to regain a portion of the super middleweight championship. After more than a year out of the ring, following his loss to all-time great Terence Crawford, Canelo showed the boxing world he is far from done.
Canelo’s Masterclass Against Mbilli
Mbilli, coming in as the WBC champion with a 29-1-1 record, definitely looked to bring his youth and higher punch volume to those early rounds. And yeah, the opening exchanges were tight. But once Canelo, now 36, hit his stride after the halfway point, it was lights out for Mbilli’s championship reign. The Mexican icon just got into this “irresistible rhythm,” defensively locked in and relentlessly accurate with every punch. He was jabbing beautifully, snapping Mbilli’s head back repeatedly with those uppercuts, and that precision right hook? Couldn’t miss. Mbilli even got a controversial point deduction in round eight for hitting the back of Canelo’s head, and you could see it just took all the steam out of him. A late rally in the final session wasn’t enough, leaving no doubt about the verdict. The judges saw it 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112 in Canelo’s favor. Total domination.
The Fire is Back: What’s Next for the Champ?
When the scores were announced, Canelo absolutely roared with delight, celebrating with “huge emotion,” just triumphantly roaring. If anyone was wondering if the hunger was still there, if he still had the passion for the sport he’s carried for a decade, that reaction told you everything. The “malaise of recent years” seemed completely lifted as he genuinely enjoyed his work in the ring. This performance suggests “more great deeds ahead” for the fighter who’s always oozed self-belief. What’s on his mind? He’d “dearly love” to avenge those painful losses to Dmitry Bivol, the light heavyweight king, and the now-retired Crawford. Undefeated Brit Hamzah Sheeraz was even in attendance, hoping to get himself into the Canelo conversation. It’s clear Canelo is determined to make this “last lap” a memorable one.
Undercard Action Delivers
While Canelo took center stage, the undercard delivered some serious fireworks. Jaime Munguia retained his WBA super middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Nikita Zon, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Rafael Espinoza put on a show, keeping his WBO featherweight title by stopping Ricardo Blandom with a TKO in the third round. Carl Jammes Martin beat David Picasso by split decision in a featherweight clash, and Reito Tsutsumi got a TKO win over Raymundo Rojas Garcia in the second round of their super featherweight bout. Sultan Almohammed, Bek Nurmaganbet, Emiliano Rojo, and Brayan Leon also picked up wins on a stacked night of fights.
With Mbilli defused and dominated, Canelo has sent a clear message. The “last lap” is on, and he’s coming for whatever challenges are left. What’s his next move? We’re all glued to find out who’s brave enough to step into the ring with a re-energized, title-holding Canelo Alvarez.
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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