Christian Mbilli has voed to \u201ccome back stronger\u201d following his defeat to Saul \u2018Canelo\u2019 Alvarez.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old was upgraded from interim to full WBC champion last year in the 168lbs ranks when Terence Crawford \u2013 who had just won all the belts from Alvarez \u2013 announced his retirement.<\/p>\n
Mbilli took the most lucrative first defence on offer, giving Canelo an immediate shot to win back his old title.<\/p>\n
As the rounds progressed on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Mexican\u2019s experience and superior skills showed through.<\/a> Canelo steadily took control of proceedings, disrupting Mbilli\u2019s usually relentless pace and countering to take a clear unanimous decision victory and become champion once again.<\/p>\n A day after suffering the first defeat of his career<\/a>, Mbilli took to Instagram<\/a> to thank fans and confirm that his motivation remains.<\/p>\n \u201cLast night didn\u2019t go the way I wanted. I\u2019m taking this as a lesson, heading back to the gym, and I\u2019ll come back stronger. Thanks to my team and to all of you for your messages of support.\u201d<\/p>\n The super-middleweight division still offers the French-Cameroonian pressure fighter plenty of options for big nights under the lights and there are three other major belts for him to pursue.<\/p>\n As for Canelo, his 70th pro bout is now around the corner, with a return planned for March next year \u2013 the last fight in his current contract with Riyadh Season.<\/p>\n Whether he looks for the biggest name possible or targets a fellow champion remains to be seen. WBA champion Jaime Munguia is not on the table, given Canelo already beat him and the pair are now stablemates in Eddy Reynoso\u2019s gym.<\/p>\n IBF champion Osleys Iglesias could pose a significant threat, as could the winner of the vacant WBO contest between Jacob Bank and Janibek Alimkhanuly. Hamzah Sheeraz, who recently vacated that belt rather than face Alimkhanuly, still wants to face Canelo, but has lost significant bargaining power.<\/p>\n