Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli Fight Official For September 12 In Riyadh

Turki Alalshikh confirmed the WBC super middleweight title fight as Canelo returns to Riyadh against unbeaten champion Christian Mbilli

Canelo Alvarez will officially challenge unbeaten WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli on September 12 in Riyadh after Turki Alalshikh confirmed the fight Friday. The announcement sets Canelo’s first fight since last year’s loss to Terence Crawford and gives Mbilli the biggest championship opportunity of his career.

The fight places Canelo straight back into the super middleweight championship picture at 168 pounds, with Mbilli entering as the unbeaten WBC champion after being elevated earlier this year.

A press conference is scheduled for May 23 in Cairo, where both fighters will meet face-to-face for the first time.

Canelo returns to Riyadh after a long run at super middleweight that included nine successful title defenses during his reign as undisputed champion. The September date also lands one year after his fight with Crawford in Las Vegas, a Netflix event that reportedly drew more than 41 million viewers.

Mbilli earned the WBC interim title with a win over Maciej Sulecki before being upgraded to full champion in January. The French-Cameroonian contender has stayed unbeaten while steadily moving toward a title fight with Alvarez.

Mbilli’s pressure and workrate now place him opposite one of the division’s most experienced championship fighters.

“After so many years in this sport, my motivation is still the same: to challenge myself, represent Mexico, and continue building my legacy,” Canelo said. “Mbilli is undefeated, and a great fighter, and I respect that.”

He added: “On September 12 in Riyadh, we begin a new chapter with the same discipline, ambition, and vision that has carried me throughout my career.”

Mbilli enters the biggest fight of his career with confidence after his recent climb through the rankings”.

“My last fight was the fight of the year. In September, against Canelo Alvarez, it will be the fight of the decade,” Mbilli said. “And when the fight is over, the world will witness a historic victory for me.”

The September fight gives Canelo an immediate path back into the title mix at 168 pounds.

Share on Facebook

Post on X