On September 12, the “Riyadh Season” calls for the boxing event “Mexico vs. the World” in the ANB Arena. In the headliner, Canelo Alvarez challenges WBC champion Christian Mbilli.
Christian Mbilli, WBC World Super Middleweight Champion, will defend his title on September 12 on a major international stage. The Frenchman, who boxes for the Canadian promotion “Eye of the Tiger” (EOTTM), will face ring legend Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in the ANB Arena in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). “Canelo is the biggest challenge of my life – a life full of effort, perseverance and hard work that has prepared me for this moment,” said “Solid” Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 knockouts). And added: “I promise to write my name in the history of this sport – with a fight like you’ve never seen before.”
Four years of “Undisputed”
On June 27, 2025, the super middleweight, who lives and trains in Montreal, defeated Maciej Sulecki from Poland to become interim WBC world champion. Two and a half months later, Mbilli defended his title against Lester Martinez (Guatemala), albeit narrowly by split decision. And after Terence Crawford defeated Canelo in an undisputed duel on September 13 and subsequently ended his career, Mbilli was upgraded to full WBC champion.
On his way to the top, the 31-year-old, who is trained by Marc Ramsay, has defeated a number of renowned boxers. These include ring veteran Sulecki, Australian brawler Rohan Murdock and Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko. However, Mbilli’s fight record is nowhere near the quality of Alvarez’s. The Mexican boxing idol fought 68 fights (63-3-2, 39 knockouts) in his 20-year professional career, including 24 world championship fights alone. The redhead was champion in four different weight classes, collected 14 world championship belts and was “Undisputed” in the super middleweight division for almost four years.
“Even when I’m 50 …”
Canelo, who turns 36 in July, has been without a title since losing to Crawford last year. He is now number one in the WBC rankings – a position long held by Mbilli. “We’ve been trying for years to get the fight between Christian and Canelo off the ground,” said EOTTM boss Camille Estephan. Now the fight is finally set – and will headline the fight card of “Mexico vs. the World” in the ANB Arena in Riyadh on September 12.
“Even if I’m 50 years old, Christian Mbilli still can’t beat me,” said Alvarez at the press conference ahead of the “Glory in Giza” boxing event. “He’s a champion, a dangerous fighter who throws a lot and is strong. But he can’t beat me in this life.”
Text: Frank Schwantes