'Phenomenal:' Jake Paul, Terence Crawford and more react to Canelo Alvarez's vintage win over Christian Mbilli
Canelo Alvarez defeated Christian Mbilli in a unanimous decision to reclaim the WBC super middleweight championship in Riyadh. The victory follows a period of speculation regarding Alvarez's career longevity after his 2025 loss to Terence Crawford.
Why it matters
This win re-establishes Alvarez as a dominant force in boxing and sets the stage for potential high-profile future matchups.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez turned back the clock Saturday night, and the boxing world took notice.
The Mexican superstar returned from a 13-month layoff to defeat Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision and reclaim the WBC super middleweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alvarez delivered a vintage performance, using his experience, aggression and precision punching to get the better of the previously unbeaten Mbilli.
The victory marked Alvarez's first fight since losing to Terence Crawford in September 2025 , a defeat that raised questions about how much the 36-year-old former two-time undisputed champion had left in the tank.
Those questions received a strong answer Saturday, as Alvarez earned his first victory in more than a year and improved his professional record to 64-3-2 (39 KOs).
Also covering this story
3 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Mbilli vs Alvarez: Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez reclaims world title with vintage performance
Canelo Álvarez wins back world title as Houthi attacks cast shadow over Riyadh
Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli results, highlights for Canelo win
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