Saul "Canelo" Alvarez regained his championship in the super middleweight division in Riyadh with a decisive victory over Christian Mbilli. The match ended on Saturday with a unanimous decision after twelve rounds, with judges scoring 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110 in favor of Alvarez.
Alvarez's Dominance in the Second Half
Alvarez, who is 36 years old, was fighting for the first time after his defeat against Terence Crawford in September 2025. This loss had marked the end of his reign as the champion of all four major titles in this weight class. In contrast, 31-year-old Mbilli, who had been introduced as champion in January, was trying to defend his title in this match.
After receiving the championship belt, Alvarez was unable to express his feelings and said, "Describing this feeling is very difficult. It's unbelievable. I feel like this is my first title. Now, after 20, 21 years as a professional, I won my first title 16 years ago. Now I have regained the title again."
Impact of Security Situation on Sporting Events
Alvarez's victory came amid a worsening security situation in Saudi Arabia due to escalating tensions with the Houthi movement in Yemen. Several other sporting events in the country were canceled due to Houthi drone and missile attacks, including the "Six Kings" tennis exhibition and the final stage of the World Rally Championship. However, combat sports events continued in the kingdom.
At the end, Alvarez expressed gratitude to his family who were watching him from afar, saying, "This is the first time they are seeing me from a distance."
At the beginning of the fight, Alvarez appeared as the calmer fighter, but over time, especially in the sixth round, he took control of the match. With a strong right punch in the seventh round, he pressured Mbilli and shifted the momentum in his favor. In the eighth round, Mbilli lost a point for hitting behind the head, and from then on, Alvarez took control of the fight.
