Canelo Alvarez expects Christian Mbilli to force him into the type of fight that could steal the show on September 12, and he even compared parts of the bout to the old James Toney rope-counter style.
Many fans questioned whether Canelo (64-2-2, 39 KOs) was taking a softer option by choosing Mbilli instead of David Benavidez or Dmitry Bivol. Canelo rejected that idea this week, saying Mbilli’s pressure-heavy style is exactly why he wanted the fight.
“He’s a champion. He’s a good fighter. He’s got that good style. It’s going to be a good fight for the fans. Everybody thinks I’m going to take an easy fight, but I like to go straight with the champions,” Canelo told InsideRingShow.
Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) has built his reputation on relentless pressure, combination punching and forcing opponents to return. That style has led some fans to compare the bout to the kind of fights that usually bring out the best version of Canelo.
Mike Coppinger mentioned the possibility of the fight becoming a Fight of the Year contender and showed how the styles could merge in a way similar to some of Canelo’s previous wars with Gennadiy Golovkin.
“I hope so. I think he has a good style. My style makes it perfect for his style, and it could be. It could be a fight of the year. Yeah, I see it,” Canelo said when responding to being told he could spend parts of the fight against the ropes countering Mbilli like James Toney used to in his prime.
The bigger takeaway may have been Canelo admitting he could not afford a slow start against Mbilli’s pressure.
“I’m going to be ready for everything because usually I take my time in one round, two rounds to see everything. I think with Mbilli I have to start things in the first round,” said Canelo.
That comment says a lot about how Canelo views Mbilli’s style. Fighters who allow Canelo to settle into a measured pace are usually picked apart over twelve rounds. Mbilli’s pressure may force him into a much quicker fight than usual. This is probably why Canelo is much more interested in this matchup than many expected.
Could Canelo vs Mbilli be a Fight of the Year candidate? 🤔
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Last updated on 2026/05/28 at 18:26
