Canelo Alvarez secured a unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli on October 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, winning the WBC super middleweight title. The judges scored the bout 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110 in favor of Alvarez. This fight marked Alvarez’s return to the ring after losing his undisputed super middleweight crown to Terence Crawford in September 2025. With this win, Alvarez improved his professional record to 63-3-2, while Mbilli suffered his first career defeat, falling to 29-1-1.

Throughout the fight, Alvarez demonstrated his superior skill, especially from the fourth round onward, using sharp counter combinations and effective jabs to control the pace and momentum. Despite Mbilli’s early efforts with body shots, Alvarez’s experience and slick boxing style eventually overwhelmed him. The Mexican star effectively showcased why he is a three-time champion at 168 pounds, convincingly outclassing the younger French fighter.

Controversy arose in the middle rounds when referee Hector Afu deducted a point from Mbilli, initially considering a warning but ultimately issuing the penalty after Alvarez vocally complained about low blows and punches behind the head. This decision drew criticism from DAZN announcer Todd Grisham and commentator Tony Bellew, who suggested that Alvarez influenced the referee’s call. Bellew openly mocked the situation on social media, implying the fight was effectively decided once the point was taken from Mbilli.

Despite the criticism over the referee’s handling, the point deduction did not affect the outcome as Alvarez had already dominated the bout. The victory reinstated him as the WBC super middleweight champion and set the stage for his continued pursuit of reclaiming his status at the top of the division. This event was part of the “Mexico vs. The World” card in Riyadh, which featured several other world title fights and notable match-ups.