Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez has reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight world title after defeating previously unbeaten Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez secured the victory on Saturday night, October 31, 2026, with all three judges scoring the contest in his favour, marking a significant comeback following his disappointing defeat to Terence Crawford a year ago.
The 36-year-old showed his experience and technical superiority to overcome a determined Mbilli, who started strongly and made life difficult for the former champion in the opening rounds.
Mbilli pressed forward with busy combinations, forcing Alvarez towards the ropes and attempting to unsettle the Mexican with his aggression.
However, Canelo gradually established control, using his defensive skills, counter-punching ability and precise power shots to change the direction of the contest.
The turning point came from the sixth round, when Alvarez began dictating the pace and landing increasingly effective punches.
His right uppercut and powerful right cross troubled Mbilli, while his ability to counter from the ropes made it difficult for the challenger to sustain his early momentum.
Alvarez continued to assert his authority as the contest progressed, moving away from the ropes to take control of the centre of the ring.
A four-punch combination in the eighth round further demonstrated his growing confidence, although the referee deducted a point from Mbilli for hitting behind the head.
Mbilli struggled to find an effective response as the Mexican veteran took charge in the closing rounds. Despite landing some notable punches, the challenger could not produce the sustained pressure required to overturn the contest.
The judges eventually awarded Alvarez a unanimous decision, with scorecards of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110, confirming his return as WBC super-middleweight champion.
A champion’s return
The victory represents an important milestone in Alvarez’s remarkable professional career.
After suffering a high-profile defeat to Terence Crawford in 2025, the Mexican returned to the ring against a formidable opponent in Mbilli, who entered the contest unbeaten and established as a leading contender in the super-middleweight division.
For Alvarez, the victory was another demonstration of his experience and ability to compete at the highest level.
Speaking after the fight, the Mexican expressed his delight at becoming a world champion again after more than two decades as a professional boxer.
“It’s so difficult to explain. It’s something unbelievable,” Alvarez said.
“Now after 21 years as a professional, 16 years ago I won my first title, now I won the title again.”
He also acknowledged Mbilli’s strength, adding that he was pleased with his performance.
Alvarez disclosed that he would take a few weeks off before returning to training.
Munguia survives scare to retain WBA title
Elsewhere on the Riyadh fight card, Jaime Munguia retained his WBA super-middleweight title after overcoming a major scare against Nikita Zon.
The Mexican secured a unanimous decision victory, but not before coming close to suffering a knockout defeat in the sixth round.
Zon, fighting as a southpaw, troubled Munguia with powerful left-hand punches and had the champion under severe pressure. He came close to stopping him after landing a heavy left uppercut, forcing Munguia backwards before launching a sustained attack.
However, Munguia survived the assault and gradually recovered as Zon began to tire. The champion subsequently took control of the later rounds to secure the decision.
Espinoza retains WBO title
Rafael Espinoza also successfully defended his WBO featherweight world title against replacement opponent Ricardo Blandon.
Espinoza dominated the contest before a damaging cut above Blandon’s eyelid prompted the ringside doctor to stop the fight in the third round.
The victory completed a successful night for the Mexican champions in Riyadh, headlined by Alvarez’s return to world-title glory.
For Canelo, however, the biggest takeaway was reclaiming the WBC super-middleweight championship and re-establishing himself as a world champion following his setback against Crawford.
