‘Canelo’ Alvarez wins back WBC title from Mbilli in Riyadh
Mexican veteran Saul “Canelo” Alvarez produced a commanding performance to defeat French fighter Christian Mbilli and regain his WBC super middleweight title in an emotional victory in Saudi Arabia. Alvarez won a 12-round decision in Riyadh after exerting his influence in the second half of a fight that went ahead despite the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement. The 36-year-old Mexican was returning to the ring for the first time since he was beaten by American Terence Crawford in September 2025. That loss ended Alvarez’s reign as holder of the division’s four major titles. He faced Mbilli, 31,