Canelo Álvarez beats Christian Mbilli in Riyadh to reclaim WBC title
The gist
Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez beat France's Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision in Riyadh to reclaim the WBC title.
The win came despite Houthi attacks that week; he says 4-5 fights remain.
How it unfolded
- Sep 2025Terence Crawford outpointed Álvarez by unanimous decision in Las Vegas, ending Álvarez's reign as holder of the division's four major titles.
- Jan 2026Christian Mbilli was elevated to WBC titleholder after Crawford's departure from the division, having previously held the interim title.
- Oct 10, 2026 -11, 2026Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, reportedly killing 12 and injuring more than 300.
Key terms
- WBC
- An international professional boxing organization, one of the four major sanctioning bodies.
- unanimous decision
- A winning criterion in combat sports where all three judges agree on which fighter won the match.
- Houthi
- A Zaydi Shia Islamist political and paramilitary organization that emerged from Yemen in the 1990s.
Source: Wikipedia