“Canelo Álvarez will return to the ring on 12th September in Riyadh to face WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli,” Turki Alalshikh said.
Mbilli earned his position with constant pressure, combination punching, and a steady climb through the rankings before capturing the WBC interim belt against Maciej Sulecki. The unbeaten champion now steps into the biggest fight of his career against a fighter who
“Positioning himself as a dangerous contender in the division, Mbilli carries an unbeaten record,” the announcement stated.
The fight marks Canelo’s first appearance since last year’s loss to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. That event reportedly drew more than 41 million viewers on Netflix and ended Canelo’s long run as the leading champion at 168 pounds.
“The Mexican legend and former undisputed champion returns to Riyadh with the WBC title in his sights after a defining run at super-middleweight, including nine successful defences during a near five-year reign at the top of the division,” the announcement said.
A press conference is scheduled for May 23 in Cairo, where both fighters are expected to meet publicly for the first time since the fight became official.
“The bout marks one year since Canelo’s clash with Terence Crawford in Las Vegas, which became one of the most-watched boxing events in history,” the release added.
The announcement settles weeks of speculation around Canelo’s next move and gives Mbilli the highest-profile fight of his career against one of the biggest names in the sport.
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