Canelo Álvarez regains WBC title with unanimous decision over Christian Mbilli

Canelo Álvarez reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight championship on Saturday, defeating Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision in Riyadh. Boxing Insider reported that the judges returned scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for the Mexican, who regained a world title 13 months after his defeat to Terence Crawford. The bout went the full 12 rounds.

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The result moved Álvarez to 64 wins, three defeats and two draws, while Mbilli’s record became 29-1-1. According to Boxing Insider, Mbilli had been promoted to full WBC champion after Crawford vacated the belt and was making his first defence. He arrived without a professional defeat but left without the championship he had been defending.

Mbilli tried to establish the pace by advancing and putting punches together, while Álvarez selected opportunities to counter. Boxing News 24 reported that the champion found more success in the fourth round, when he landed more frequently and made Álvarez concentrate on defence. Mbilli also had a productive sixth, applying pressure while his opponent spent time near the ropes.

Álvarez answered in the seventh with a jab that disrupted Mbilli’s attacks and a right uppercut as the champion moved forward, according to Boxing News 24. He added punches to the body during that round. Rather than matching Mbilli’s output throughout, the challenger used those openings to land more selectively and interrupt the attacks coming towards him.

The eighth round brought a further setback for Mbilli when referee Hector Afu deducted a point. Boxing News 24 scored that round 10-8 for Álvarez after the penalty and reported that neither boxer had registered a knockdown. Mbilli continued to compete, with the outlet narrowly awarding him the ninth and tenth on its unofficial card, before Álvarez took the closing two rounds.

Boxing Insider described Álvarez using his jab to control distance late in the contest, with Mbilli landing right hands in the final round but unable to build a decisive attack. Álvarez also connected with a right near the finish. There was no stoppage, but all three judges favoured the challenger, completing his return to championship status and handing Mbilli his first professional loss.