Canelo Alvarez reclaims WBC super-middleweight title with win over Christian Mbilli
publishers 13articles 13first reported 30 Oct, 12:42 UTCdeveloping since 30 Oct · 3 editions
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight title with a unanimous points victory over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Saturday.
Returning after more than a year out of the ring, the 36-year-old Mexican weathered Mbilli’s pressure and higher punch output before responding with cleaner counterpunches and body shots. Alvarez staggered the French champion with an uppercut in the seventh round. Although The Japan Times and The National reported slightly different score totals, both said all three judges awarded Alvarez the fight.
“It feels like my first title,” Alvarez said after the bout. “I love boxing. That’s why I’m here, because I still love boxing and I enjoy it a lot.”
The victory improved Alvarez’s professional record to 64 wins, three defeats and two draws. It was his first fight since Terence Crawford defeated him by unanimous decision in September 2025, taking his undisputed super-middleweight crown.
Mbilli, 31, had been elevated from interim champion to full WBC champion after Crawford left the division. The Cameroon-born French boxer entered the bout with 29 wins and one draw, but suffered his first professional defeat.
The fight proceeded despite security concerns following reported interceptions of Houthi missiles and drones aimed at the Saudi capital. Alvarez did not name his next opponent, saying he planned to take several weeks off before returning to training.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 36 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 13
- Source articles
- 13
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 36 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →