{"id":165327,"date":"2025-09-28T05:38:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T05:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/165327\/"},"modified":"2025-09-28T05:38:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T05:38:11","slug":"christian-mbilli-envisions-war-with-very-old-canelo-alvarez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/165327\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Mbilli envisions war with \u2018very old\u2019 Canelo Alvarez"},"content":{"rendered":"

Canelo Alvarez<\/a> has to carefully contemplate how to navigate his career following his upset unanimous decision defeat<\/a> against Terence Crawford<\/a>.
Alvarez is no longer the king of the super middleweight hill after the setback earlier this month, but he is The Ring\u2019s No. 1-ranked fighter in the division. Behind Alvarez are Osleys Iglesias<\/a>, Christian Mbilli<\/a>, Lester Martinez<\/a>, Diego Pacheco<\/a>, Armando Resendiz<\/a> and Hamzah Sheeraz<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) decides to stick around at 168 pounds, Mbilli and Sheeraz stand as the most marketable matchups for the Mexican star to consider as he aims to complete the remaining two fights of the Riyadh Season deal he signed earlier this year.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s music to the ears of Mbilli to be considered on the shortlist to fight Alvarez, 35, following the Canada resident’s spectacular slugfest and 10-round split draw against Martinez <\/a>on the Alvarez-Crawford undercard at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. \u201cIt will be a privilege to fight a big name like Canelo,\u201d Mbilli told The Ring<\/a>. \u201cI would be very happy to fight Canelo. I think Canelo is very old right now. He’s not the same Canelo from five to 10 years ago. But that’s normal. He’s been a professional fighter since the age of 15. But he’s still dangerous and is a good fighter. He’s still a top-three fighter in the division and a very good boxer. We’ll see if I get the chance. It will be a big name on my list.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) is the WBC super middleweight interim titleholder, and the sanctioning body has already ordered a rematch against Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs).<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) is in full possession of the division\u2019s crowns and is contemplating retirement, which is giving Mbilli more reason to move his attention to a major money fight against Alvarez before the sand in his hourglass expires. <\/p>\n

\u201cCanelo is getting old. It’s a good time for me to fight him,\u201d Mbilli, 30, said with a smile. \u201cLet’s do it. We will see. Of course, I will put on a big show. I will be there to win. It will be a big war. I don’t know if he can take my pressure and punches. I throw a lot of punches with a lot of energy. I don’t know if he can take it. I think I have a good chance to win.\u201d <\/p>\n

After the Crawford loss, Alvarez admitted that his body let him down and that “everything” about Crawford’s style gave him trouble. <\/p>\n

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring\u2019s lead writer. Follow him on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>: @ManoukAkopyan