Mbilli Defends WBC Title Against Alvarez as Oddsmakers Favor the Veteran

Christian Mbilli puts his WBC super middleweight title on the line Saturday against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, with oddsmakers installing Alvarez as the favorite. Mbilli enters as a +250 underdog and has never lost as a professional, holding 29 wins with 24 of them by knockout.

The path to this bout began in June 2025, when Mbilli stopped Maciej Sulecki in the first round to claim the interim belt. He then fought Lester Martinez to a split draw in his next outing. Alvarez fought Terence Crawford in September 2025 and lost, after which Crawford retired from the sport. Mbilli was subsequently elevated from interim champion to full titleholder.

Mbilli's record reflects his approach in the ring. He works behind a jab, drives opponents toward the ropes, and pairs right hands to the head with lefts to the body. He finished Mark Heffron with a body shot 40 seconds into that fight. Over his last five bouts he has averaged 78 punches per round, 58 of them power shots, a rate the source puts at double the super middleweight average. That output, combined with his frame, showed over 10 rounds against Martinez, when he faded after building an early lead. Against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, who fought with one arm after an early injury, Mbilli still gave up counters in the middle and late rounds.

Alvarez has not recorded a stoppage in eight fights. Mbilli's volume and strength could push the pace against an opponent who does not throw at a high rate. Terence Crawford told DAZN that Mbilli's style suits Alvarez, saying, "Styles make fights, and Mbilli's style is tailor-made for Canelo." Crawford added that he does not see Mbilli winning a boxing match and that Mbilli's best chance lies in "letting his hands go, roughing Canelo up, and making it a dogfight." The bout is scheduled for Saturday.