Canelo Alvarez beats Christian Mbilli on points in Riyadh to win back the WBC super middleweight title

Canelo vs Mbilli result: Saul "Canelo" Alvarez won a unanimous decision over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh to take back the WBC super middleweight title. The three judges scored the 12 rounds 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 for the Mexican, Al Jazeera reported.

It was Alvarez's first fight since he lost to Terence Crawford in September 2025, the defeat that ended his run as the holder of all four major belts at 168 pounds. Mbilli, a 31-year-old Frenchman, had held the WBC belt since January.

How the fight was won

• Rounds 1 and 2: Alvarez, 36, was the calmer fighter and took the opening exchanges.
• Rounds 3 to 5: Mbilli found his rhythm, throwing combinations and taking the initiative, but the fight stayed tactical.
• Round 6: a clear round for Alvarez.
• Round 7: the turning point. Alvarez trapped Mbilli on the ropes and landed a right uppercut that left him rocking.
• Round 8: Mbilli lost a point for punching behind the head, and his momentum went with it.
• Rounds 9 to 12: Alvarez controlled the distance and pulled away on the cards.

The point deduction mattered less than the trend: even the closest card, 115-112, had Alvarez two rounds clear without it.

"It felt like my first title"

"It's so difficult to explain," Alvarez said as he was handed the green belt. He said the win felt like his first world title, which came 16 years ago, and thanked his family, who for the first time watched one of his fights from afar.

Riyadh went ahead despite the Houthi strikes

The bout was staged in the Saudi capital despite the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis, which has led to other sporting events being cancelled. In October, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh had insisted the card would go ahead, as we reported at the time.

What it means

Alvarez is a world champion again at 36 and back at the centre of the division. Mbilli, who won the belt only in January, now has to rebuild after losing it in his first defence on this scale. Neither camp has announced what comes next.

Riyadh is two hours behind Pakistan. More big fight nights in Pakistan time are on our UFC schedule page.