Saul “Canelo” Alvarez didn’t just win Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he absolutely turned back the clock, defeating Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision and reclaiming the WBC super middleweight championship after a 13-month layoff. It was a statement performance from the Mexican superstar, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Vintage Canelo Silences the Doubters
Let’s be real, a lot of us had questions. Alvarez, at 36 years old, was coming off a loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025. That defeat, combined with a whopping 13 months out of the ring, made everyone wonder how much the two-time undisputed champion really had left in the tank. But Canelo showed up, delivered a truly vintage performance, unleashing his signature experience, aggression, and precision punching to absolutely get the better of Mbilli, who was previously unbeaten. This wasn’t just a win, it was his first victory in over a year, pushing his professional record to an incredible 64-3-2, with 39 KOs. Former British boxer and analyst David Coldwell summed it up perfectly in just three words: “Old manned him.” Yeah, he did.
Jake Paul’s Next Big Target?
You know the boxing world was buzzing, and you know Jake Paul was right there in the mix, watching every second. Paul hopped on social media, praising Alvarez’s showing and, of course, taking the chance to tease a potential fight. “Out of the ring for 13 months but still the same old Canelo. Respect,” Paul wrote. But he couldn’t resist adding, “Did take a lot of punches though. We will dance my friend, we will dance.” Remember, these two have been linked to a blockbuster matchup before Alvarez inked that massive deal with Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season back in 2025.
So, with questions answered and a championship reclaimed, the boxing world is watching Canelo. But the biggest question now is whether Jake Paul’s social media call-out turns into an actual challenge, setting the stage for what would be one of the most talked-about fights in recent memory.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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