Mexican veteran boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has reportedly secured a 12-round decision victory over French fighter Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, reclaiming his WBC super middleweight title. The bout took place despite the escalating military conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, a situation that has previously forced the cancellation of numerous other high-profile international sporting events in the kingdom.

The 36-year-old boxer was stepping back into the ring for the first time since his defeat by American fighter Terence Crawford in September 2025, a loss that dismantled Alvarez’s previous reign as the undisputed division leader. His opponent, 31-year-old Mbilli, who was elevated to titleholder status in January, initially presented a formidable challenge and controlled portions of the early rounds through aggressive combinations and sustained activity.

Judges scored the contest 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110 in favour of Alvarez, whose statements after the fight romanticized his return after a two-decade career. However, the event's backdrop remained controversial, with Alvarez himself hinting at the underlying security risks by noting that his family was forced to watch him from afar for the very first time due to prevailing threat levels.

As the fight progressed past the midpoint, the tactical landscape shifted significantly. Alvarez allegedly exploited his superior ringcraft starting in the sixth round, landing a devastating right uppercut in the seventh that left the French contender reeling. The momentum definitively swung when Mbilli had a point deducted in the eighth round for striking behind the head, allowing the veteran to coast through the remaining frames.

Source: www.aljazeera.com