Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez defeated French boxer Christian Mbilli by 12-round decision Sunday in Riyadh to regain the WBC super middleweight title, his first fight since losing to Terence Crawford in September 2025, a loss that ended his reign as holder of the division’s four major titles.
Alvarez, 36, returned to the ring for the first time since Crawford beat him in September 2025. Mbilli, 31, had been elevated to WBC champion in January after Alvarez's loss.
The fight started as a tight contest, with Mbilli taking the initiative in the third and fifth rounds. Alvarez showed his class and ringcraft in the sixth. In the seventh, he pinned Mbilli to the ropes and landed a right uppercut that had Mbilli rocking. Mbilli lost a point in the eighth for punching behind the head and seemed to lose more momentum from then on, as Alvarez began dictating the fight in the next round and pulled ahead.
Judges returned scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for Alvarez.
Alvarez struggled to find words after receiving the belt. 'It’s so difficult to explain. It’s so difficult to explain. It’s something unbelievable. It feels like my first title, now, after 20, 21 years as a professional. Sixteen years ago, I won my first title. Now I won the title again,' he said in English.
Alvarez added the win to a career that includes world titles from light middleweight to light heavyweight over 20 years.
The fight went ahead despite an escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis. Other sporting events had been called off since the Houthis launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Alvarez hinted at the security situation when he thanked his family 'who are watching me from afar today for the first time.'
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The victory restores Canelo Alvarez’s status as a major boxing champion after a defining loss.
- The event’s continuation despite regional conflict underscores the intersection of sports and geopolitics in Saudi Arabia.
- Alvarez’s emotional comments highlight the personal significance of the comeback.
Background
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is a Mexican boxing superstar who has won world titles across multiple weight divisions. His September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford was only his second professional defeat and ended his hold on all four super middleweight belts. Christian Mbilli was elevated to WBC champion in January 2026 after Alvarez lost the title. The fight in Riyadh took place amid a Houthi campaign of drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia.
What to Watch
- Whether the escalating Houthi-Saudi conflict will lead to further cancellations of major sporting events in the Kingdom.
- Alvarez’s next move at age 36 after a championship-winning performance, possibly a title defense or another high-profile bout.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedCanelo Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super middleweight title with a decision over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Alvarez won a 12-round decision on Sunday in Riyadh after exerting his influence in the second half of a fight”
- SupportedAlvarez’s victory was an emotional one.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “regain his WBC super middleweight title in an emotional victory in Saudi Arabia.”
- SupportedAlvarez thanked his family, who were watching from afar for the first time.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Alvarez hinted at the security situation when he thanked his family “who are watching me from afar today for the first time”.”
- SupportedAlvarez is Mexican and Mbilli is French.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Mexican veteran Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has delivered a commanding performance to defeat French fighter Christian Mbilli”
- SupportedAlvarez won by a 12-round decision on Sunday in Riyadh.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Alvarez won a 12-round decision on Sunday in Riyadh”
- SupportedThis was Alvarez’s first fight since Terence Crawford beat him in September 2025.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “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”
- SupportedThe loss to Crawford ended Alvarez’s reign as holder of the division’s four major titles.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “in a loss that ended Alvarez’s reign as holder of the division’s four major titles.”
- SupportedAlvarez was 36 and Mbilli was 31.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The 36-year-old Mexican was returning to the ring”
- SupportedMbilli had been elevated to WBC titleholder in January.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “He faced Mbilli, 31, who was elevated to titleholder in January”
- SupportedThe judges scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for Alvarez.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The judges scored the contest 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 in Alvarez’s favour.”
- SupportedAlvarez said, in English, “It’s so difficult to explain. It’s so difficult to explain. It’s something unbelievable. It feels like my first title, now, after 20, 21 years as a professional. Sixteen years ago, I won my first title. Now I won the title again.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““It’s so difficult to explain. It’s so difficult to explain,” Alvarez said in English. “It’s something unbelievable. It feels like my first title, now, after 20, 21 years as a professional. Sixteen years ago, I won my first title. Now I won the title again.””
- SupportedThe fight went ahead despite escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “a fight that went ahead despite the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis.”