Robert Garcia Says Christian Mbilli Will Test Canelo Alvarez After Terence Crawford Loss

The veteran trainer still favors Alvarez on September 12 but believes Mbilli could reveal whether age and recent damage have taken a toll

Robert Garcia expects Canelo Alvarez to beat Christian Mbilli, but he believes the September 12 fight could answer lingering questions about the Mexican star’s condition after last year’s loss to Terence Crawford. Garcia said Mbilli’s toughness and workrate could make the bout far more competitive than many fans expect.

Mbilli enters the fight as the WBC super middleweight champion after being elevated from interim status following Crawford’s retirement. The French contender has not fought since his draw against Lester Martinez, but many view him as one of the division’s most active pressure fighters.

Garcia believes Mbilli’s toughness could make the fight more difficult than some expect.

“Mbilli’s tough, man. He had a really good fight with Lester [Martinez], and Lester’s also a great fighter, so it’ll be interesting to see how Canelo comes back after that beating he took [against Crawford],” said Robert to YSM Sports Media.

“It’s a close fight; I’d still favor Canelo [over Mbilli], but it’s not going to be easy.”

The former Trainer of the Year stopped well short of predicting an upset. Garcia still favors Canelo to win. His interest is in how Alvarez responds against an opponent who is likely to maintain a steady work rate throughout the fight.

Canelo was unable to keep pace with Crawford once their fight moved into the later rounds. Mbilli is a different type of fighter, but he also brings energy, pressure, and a willingness to throw punches in volume. If Alvarez fades again, the champion could find himself in a much tougher fight than many are expecting.

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