Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli - September 12, 2026

[Cent0089]

Osleys Iglesias, Diego Pacheco, Hamzah Sheeraz, Jacob Bank, Jermall Charlo, Lester Martinez. Will they fight each other meanwhile or will they just sit and wait as usual?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez next fight: Christian Mbilli reportedly ‘done deal’

Canelo Alvarez is expected to face Christian Mbilli in September

Canelo Alvarez appears to have his next fight set.

The 35-year-old Mexican star has been expected to headline a card in Riyadh on September 12, and it appears he will be facing Christian Mbilli, who holds the WBC super middleweight title, having been elevated from interim status following the retirement of Terence “Bud” Crawford.

Mike Coppinger and Ring Magazine report that there is a “done deal” for September in Riyadh, and given that promoter Turki Alalshikh owns Ring Magazine, you would suspect this is pretty accurate.

Mbilli, 31, had been considered the lead candidate to face Canelo in what has been billed as a “Mexico vs The World” event in Saudi Arabia.

Both Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KO) and Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KO) failed to secure victory in their last appearances on September 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. That was the night Canelo lost to Crawford, and on the undercard, Mbilli fought to a hard draw with Lester Martinez.

It’s a serious test for Canelo upon his return. Mbilli may be flawed, but he’s tough and a good puncher with some skills, and a serious player at 168 lbs. Canelo isn’t getting any younger and his peak years have certainly passed, but he’s still a very good fighter and one of the biggest stars in the sport, so the upside for Mbilli here is obvious, this is a can’t-miss chance for him to make his own name in a big way.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BREAKING: Canelo to return in September

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announces that Canelo Alvarez will return on September 12th in a “Mexico against The World” card under his inaugural Canelo Promotions banner in Riyadh

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CANELO ALVAREZ SET TO RETURN SEPTEMBER 12 IN SAUDI ARABIA

Canelo Alvarez has a date and a site for his next fight.

Turki Alalshikh and Alvarez announced in a video posted on The Ring’s social media channels Thursday that the Mexican superstar will return to the ring September 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alvarez’s opponent hasn’t been determined.

“The 12th of September, a big, big, big fight,” said Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and owner of The Ring. “And this will be the first card for Canelo Promotions. It will be named ‘Mexico Against the World.’ All the fighters from the team of Canelo against the world. And [Alvarez] in the main event [for] a world title, and it will be a surprise in Saudi Arabia, in sha Allah.”

Guadalajara’s Alvarez, 35, will fight for the first time in almost exactly a year, assuming he returns the Saturday before Mexican Independence Day. The four-division champion and former pound-for-pound king was expected to take a lengthy break following elbow surgery soon after his unanimous-decision defeat to Terence Crawford on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) has said he will continue to fight for however long his body can withstand the rigors of intense training.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez Starts His Training Camp

Canelo Alvarez has started his training camp for his return on September 12, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After a year defined by elbow surgery and the loss of his undisputed 168 status to the now-retired Terence Crawford, the Mexican wants a world title fight on his return. Christian Mbilli currently sits at the top of the wish list. Having recently ascended to the full WBC championship, the undefeated Frenchman is the “on-paper” favorite for the Riyadh slot.

However, a legal and competitive hurdle exists: the WBC’s insistence on a rematch between Mbilli and Lester Martinez. If those two are forced into a summer showdown to settle their previous draw, Canelo will be forced to look elsewhere.

Other Options

A significant backup plan is unfolding in Egypt. On May 23, Hamzah Sheeraz meets Alem Begic for the vacant WBO belt. This fight is essentially an audition for the Canelo sweepstakes; the victor will walk away with the belt Canelo needs to begin his quest to become undisputed once again. This isn’t just another fight; it marks the launch of Canelo Promotions with the card titled “Mexico Against the World.”

By launching “Mexico Against the World,” Canelo is betting on himself as both an elite athlete and a global promoter. The Saudi-backed venture is designed to prove that the “Canelo era” didn’t end with the Crawford defeat.

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Official: Christian Mbilli competing with others for Canelo Alvarez's next fight

The expectation that Canelo Alvarez will fight new WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli next is not a foregone conclusion, an official connected to the negotiations told Boxing Scene Monday.

Rather than declare Mbilli the frontrunner to be Alvarez’s next opponent, the individual, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said, “He [Mbilli] is in the mix.

“Whoever [the September opponent] is will have the best pay day they’ve ever had.”

France’s Mbilli 29-0-1 (24 KOs) retained his WBC interim title by a razor-thin margin when he fought Guatemala’s Lester Martinez to a September 13 draw on the undercard of Alvarez’s loss of his undisputed titles versus Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Five-division champion Crawford retired in December, opening all the belts to others as Mbilli was elevated to full champion.

The individual said it may be “a few weeks” before Mexico’s four-division champion and former pound-for-pound king Alvarez 63-3-2 (39 KOs) selects whom he wants to fight next, with his return bout planned in Saudi Arabia on September 14 to mark Mexican Independence Day weekend.

That would open up consideration for other 168lbs champions and contenders, including new WBA champion Jose Armando Resendiz, who meets Alvarez’s stablemate and former title challenger Jaime Munguia May 2 in Las Vegas.

Resendiz met Alvarez at The Ring Magazine Awards in New York earlier this year.

“It was a short exchange … [Alvarez] gave me a few motivational words. Nothing else,” Resendiz, 16-2 (11 KOs), told Boxing Scene last week.

Resendiz said he would crave a fight against Alvarez.

“Of course. We’ve got to let this [Munguia] fight play out. What I do know is that with each fight, each day, I’m one step closer,” Resendiz, 27, said.

Later in May, Hamzah Sheeraz, a favorite fighter of Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, will be a substantial betting favorite (-1450) when he meets Alem Begic May 23 for the vacant WBO 168lbs title.

Former middleweight champion Jermall Charlo is also said to be a longshot candidate to be Alvarez’s next foe, the official said.

“Whatever it is,” the official said, “it will be Canelo’s choice.”

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‼ BREAKING: Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli have a done deal to fight in September in Riyadh for the WBC super middleweight championship, The Ring’s @MikeCoppinger has learned.

Canelo will attempt to regain a world title in his first fight since his loss to Terence Crawford.

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CANELO, MBILLI AGREE TO WBC 168-POUND TITLE FIGHT IN SEPTEMBER

Christian Mbilli had been calling for a big name, and gets the division's biggest for his first world title defense in September.

Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli have a done deal to fight in September in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Mbilli's WBC super middleweight championship, The Ring has learned.

Alvarez, boxing's top star, will attempt to regain a world title in his first fight since his September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.

It was on that undercard that Mbilli fought Lester Martinez to a 10-round split draw in one of the year’s best action fights. Alvarez is The Ring's No. 1 super middleweight while Mbilli is third.

The event, Canelo's second in Riyadh, will feature Mexico vs. the World with an undercard of featured fights to be announced later.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) fought in Riyadh in May 2025 when he outpointed William Scull to once again become undisputed champion at 168 pounds.
Four months later, Alvarez met Crawford in a packed stadium in Las Vegas on Netflix, and while he was competitive, Crawford cruised down the stretch to seal the decision victory for The Ring championship at 168 pounds.

Now, Canelo is out to prove he's still near the top of his game aged 35. During his storied career, he's won titles in four weight classes and has been the sport's top attraction for nearly 10 years.

The Mexican icon's three career losses all came against fighters Canelo will one day join in the Hall of Fame: Floyd Mayweather, Dmitry Bivol and Crawford.

Mbilli, 31, will fight on the top level for the second consecutive bout. His matchup with Martinez was grueling, up against a fellow pressure fighter. Now, he'll face a fighter on an even higher level and one who can do it all, whether that's counter punching or fighting off the front foot.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) is an attraction in Montreal, where he resides as a French-speaking Cameroon native. Alvarez will represent the first former champion on Mbilli's resume.

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David Benavidez Blasts Canelo Alvarez For Fighting Christian Mbilli

David Benavidez isn’t impressed with Canelo Alvarez’s next opponent.

Benavidez trashed Alvarez’s bout with Christian Mbilli following a press conference Thursday at MGM Grand to promote his cruiserweight title fight against Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

As The Ring first reported Thursday, Alvarez will end almost exactly a one-year layoff when he challenges Mbilli for the Montreal-based champion’s WBC super middleweight title September 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Nobody wants to see that sh*t,” Benavidez told a group of reporters. “You guys wanna see that? ... Who the f*** is Mbilli? I think he would of been better off if he would've fought Diego Pacheco.

“Diego Pacheco has a way bigger name than Mbilli. But I don’t know. You guys keep asking me about [Canelo]. This is a ‘Monster’ weekend this weekend. We have great fights. Not only is it a great main event, the whole card is stacked.”

Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) and Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) are friends. They were trained by Jose Benavidez Sr., David’s father. Pacheco announced earlier this month that he hired Buddy McGirt to replace him.

David Benavidez called out Alvarez for several years, but he has all but given on finally fighting the Mexican icon, who will turn 36 in July.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) hasn’t fought since his highly entertaining split draw with Lester Martinez (20-0-1, 16 KOs) on the Alvarez-Terence Crawford undercard September 13 in Las Vegas. Alvarez underwent surgery on his left elbow following his unanimous points loss to Crawford, which extended the former undisputed 168-pound champion’s layoff.

Mbilli was elevated from interim champion by the WBC after the Mexico-based governing organization stripped Crawford early in December for failing to pay his sanctioning fee for the Alvarez bout. Crawford, who won The Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles from Alvarez, announced his retirement in mid-December.

Mbilli is The Ring’s No. 3 super middleweight contender for a vacant championship. Alvarez is ranked No. 1 and Los Angeles’ Pacheco is No. 5.

Phoenix’s Benavidez, 29, will attempt to become champion in a third division against Mexico’s Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs).

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli set for September in Riyadh, per report

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is expected to make his healthy return against super middleweight titleholder Christian Mbilli in September in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ring Magazine announced on Thursday.

Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), has been out of the ring since his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford this past September, when Crawford won convincingly and took over Alvarez’s 168lbs undisputed championship.

After the fight, Alvarez, 35, required surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies. Having resumed training, he presumably will be ready to challenge Mbilli, who controls the WBC super middleweight belt, in the fall.

Mbilli, 29-0-1 (24 KOs), a Cameroon native and French national now fighting out of Montreal, most recently fought to a split draw against Lester Martinez last September on the Alvarez-Crawford undercard.

No official date was released as part of the Ring Magazine announcement, but Alvarez traditionally fights on Mexican Independence Day weekend and had previously been targeting a Sept. 12 return to coincide with that date in 2026.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez next fight: Christian Mbilli reportedly ‘done deal’

Canelo Alvarez is expected to face Christian Mbilli in September

Canelo Alvarez appears to have his next fight set.

The 35-year-old Mexican star has been expected to headline a card in Riyadh on September 12, and it appears he will be facing Christian Mbilli, who holds the WBC super middleweight title, having been elevated from interim status following the retirement of Terence “Bud” Crawford.

Mike Coppinger and Ring Magazine report that there is a “done deal” for September in Riyadh, and given that promoter Turki Alalshikh owns Ring Magazine, you would suspect this is pretty accurate.

Mbilli, 31, had been considered the lead candidate to face Canelo in what has been billed as a “Mexico vs The World” event in Saudi Arabia.

Both Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KO) and Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KO) failed to secure victory in their last appearances on September 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. That was the night Canelo lost to Crawford, and on the undercard, Mbilli fought to a hard draw with Lester Martinez.

It’s a serious test for Canelo upon his return. Mbilli may be flawed, but he’s tough and a good puncher with some skills, and a serious player at 168 lbs. Canelo isn’t getting any younger and his peak years have certainly passed, but he’s still a very good fighter and one of the biggest stars in the sport, so the upside for Mbilli here is obvious, this is a can’t-miss chance for him to make his own name in a big way.

[MPW]

I think it's easy fight for Canelo, unless he's mad aged in the past two years

There is nothing easy against Mbilli. That guy is a beast

He is at a certain level but who has he beaten? Derevyanchenko his best win but everybody beats him. (No disrespect to The Technician, I think he's great.)

There's one dude Mbilli beat who I think is really underrated and has a very unorthodox style - Carlos Gongora!

Interesting enough, Gongora is taking on highly-rated Atif Oberlton in a LHW bout next weekend (May 9) as a late replacement.

[MPW]

Canelo Alvarez next fight: Christian Mbilli reportedly ‘done deal’

Canelo Alvarez is expected to face Christian Mbilli in September

Canelo Alvarez appears to have his next fight set.

The 35-year-old Mexican star has been expected to headline a card in Riyadh on September 12, and it appears he will be facing Christian Mbilli, who holds the WBC super middleweight title, having been elevated from interim status following the retirement of Terence “Bud” Crawford.

Mike Coppinger and Ring Magazine report that there is a “done deal” for September in Riyadh, and given that promoter Turki Alalshikh owns Ring Magazine, you would suspect this is pretty accurate.

Mbilli, 31, had been considered the lead candidate to face Canelo in what has been billed as a “Mexico vs The World” event in Saudi Arabia.

Both Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KO) and Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KO) failed to secure victory in their last appearances on September 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. That was the night Canelo lost to Crawford, and on the undercard, Mbilli fought to a hard draw with Lester Martinez.

It’s a serious test for Canelo upon his return. Mbilli may be flawed, but he’s tough and a good puncher with some skills, and a serious player at 168 lbs. Canelo isn’t getting any younger and his peak years have certainly passed, but he’s still a very good fighter and one of the biggest stars in the sport, so the upside for Mbilli here is obvious, this is a can’t-miss chance for him to make his own name in a big way.

Alvarez, who has not impressed recently, has become a patient boxer and an economical puncher-counter puncher, while Mbilli, who was fortunate to get a draw his last time out, is an awkward fighter who wants to apply constant pressure, so this one could be an interesting clash of styles. Will that pressure open him up to Alvarez's counters and body attack, or will it empty Alvarez's tank and have him running on empty halfway through?

[Bobbyptsd]

Osleys Iglesias, Diego Pacheco, Hamzah Sheeraz, Jacob Bank, Jermall Charlo, Lester Martinez. Will they fight each other meanwhile or will they just sit and wait as usual?

What the hell does Charlo have to do with any of this? Over the past five years he has three wins, over Cornflake LaManna, Benvidez Jr. and Juan Macias Montiel. Weird boxrec algorithm aside, he's not even a very relevant smw at this juncture.

[Sweet Dick Willie]

There is nothing easy against Mbilli. That guy is a beast

He is at a certain level but who has he beaten? Derevyanchenko his best win but everybody beats him. (No disrespect to The Technician, I think he's great.)

There's one dude Mbilli beat who I think is really underrated and has a very unorthodox style - Carlos Gongora!

Interesting enough, Gongora is taking on highly-rated Atif Oberlton in a LHW bout next weekend (May 9) as a late replacement.

Thanks, hadn't even heard of that

[Sweet Dick Willie]

Osleys Iglesias, Diego Pacheco, Hamzah Sheeraz, Jacob Bank, Jermall Charlo, Lester Martinez. Will they fight each other meanwhile or will they just sit and wait as usual?

What the hell does Charlo have to do with any of this? Over the past five years he has three wins, over Cornflake LaManna, Benvidez Jr. and Juan Macias Montiel. Weird boxrec algorithm aside, he's not even a very relevant smw at this juncture.

It's a shame how the Charlos' careers went. They're so amazingly talented.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez to face Christian Mbilli for WBC belt in September

Canelo Alvarez will make his highly anticipated return to the ring and challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September, The Ring announced Thursday.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) hasn't fought since losing the undisputed super middleweight championship to Terence Crawford in September. Following that loss, he underwent elbow surgery.

Now healed, Alvarez will look to reclaim one of the titles he lost last year.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) last fought Lester Martinez to a split draw on the undercard of Alvarez-Crawford. Mbilli, who came into that fight as the interim WBC super middleweight champion, was elevated to full champion after Crawford retired in December. The powerful French Cameroonian has been impressive, with wins over Maciej Sulecki and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

Alvarez's return had been penciled in for Sept. 12, but no date has been officially announced for the fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez to face Christian Mbilli for WBC belt in September

Canelo Alvarez will make his highly anticipated return to the ring and challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September, The Ring announced Thursday.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) hasn't fought since losing the undisputed super middleweight championship to Terence Crawford in September. Following that loss, he underwent elbow surgery.

Now healed, Alvarez will look to reclaim one of the titles he lost last year.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) last fought Lester Martinez to a split draw on the undercard of Alvarez-Crawford. Mbilli, who came into that fight as the interim WBC super middleweight champion, was elevated to full champion after Crawford retired in December. The powerful French Cameroonian has been impressive, with wins over Maciej Sulecki and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

Alvarez's return had been penciled in for Sept. 12, but no date has been officially announced for the fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli have signed contracts for their September fight in Riyadh for the WBC super middleweight championship, @ringmagazine has learned.

The first Canelo-Mbilli face-off will take place in Egypt during Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven fight week.

[Delta Jay]

Sounds like a good fight, I can see Canelo getting his arse kicked here!


Wonder who else will be on the card? Bam? Benavidez? Munguia? Jessica Chavez?


Be interesting to see betting odds nearer the time

[Cent0089]

It seems like this still is not official.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It seems like this still is not official.

Don’t worry. Where Turki’s involved.. it’ll happen.

[Cent0089]

It seems like this still is not official.

Don’t worry. Where Turki’s involved.. it’ll happen.

Hope so . What do you think about this fight man?

[Ruthless-RKO]

It seems like this still is not official.

Don’t worry. Where Turki’s involved.. it’ll happen.

Hope so . What do you think about this fight man?

At this stage of his career. He’s been a pro for a long time. Anything’s possible.

Should be entertaining still.

[Ruthless-RKO]