Canelo Alvarez has his next opponent lined up, and it’s a pressure fighter coming right at him at a time he can’t afford to stumble again.
A deal is in place for Canelo to face Christian Mbilli in September in Riyadh for the WBC super middleweight title, putting him in a big fight immediately following his loss to Terence Crawford.
Mike Coppinger reported that the match has been agreed upon and is being targeted for the Mexican Independence Day weekend, with dates in the September 12-14 range under discussion. The event is expected to be a big Saudi-backed card.
“BREAKING: Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli have a done deal to fight for the WBC super middleweight championship in September in Riyadh,” Coppinger said on X.
Mbilli (31) enters undefeated at 29-0-1 with 24 knockouts and has built his standing through constant forward pressure and high punch output. Based in Canada after starting his career in France, he has been pushed towards a title shot and now gets the biggest fight available at 168.
He is currently rated among the top contenders in the division, which calls for a meeting with one of boxing’s most established champions.
Canelo has become a low-output fighter, often throwing less than 35-40 punches per round to conserve energy. Mbilli is the opposite; he’s a human whirlwind who keeps his hands moving even when he doesn’t land cleanly.
If Alvarez can’t find a way to stop Mbilli or hurt him enough to slow the pace, he risks being choked out of the fight. It’s a bold move by the Mexican star to take it instead of a safer legacy fight, especially with his back against the wall.
The event is expected to take place in Riyadh as part of a huge September card.
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Last updated on 30/04/2026 at 16:43
