Canelo Beats Mbilli to Regain WBC Title in Riyadh
By Ishtiaq Hussain | Last updated: 2 November 2026
Canelo Alvarez regained the WBC super-middleweight title on Saturday 31 October 2026, beating Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision at The Venue in Riyadh. The judges scored the 12-round fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for Alvarez, who handed Mbilli the first defeat of his professional career.
The win ends Alvarez’s wait since that defeat. He lost the undisputed super-middleweight championship to Terence Crawford in September 2025, and the Mbilli fight was his first bout since that defeat. On Saturday night in Riyadh, the 36-year-old Mexican took the WBC belt back, with the Boulevard Riyadh City homepage carrying the wider season calendar around the fight.
How Canelo won the fight
Alvarez took control in the second half after a competitive start. Mbilli pressed forward early and made Alvarez work, but the Mexican’s counterpunching and cleaner work in the later rounds settled the bout. USA Today’s live results had Alvarez outlanding Mbilli 158-117 across the 12 rounds.
One moment shaped the scoring. Mbilli had a point deducted in the eighth round for a punch to the back of the head, after the referee had already warned him. The deduction widened the gap on the cards, and Alvarez closed the fight in control over the final three rounds.
The three official scores were 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110, all for Alvarez. Arab News and USA Today agree on those scores. After the fight, Alvarez stood at 64 wins, 3 defeats and 2 draws, while Mbilli fell to 29 wins, 1 defeat and 1 draw.
What the win means
Alvarez is a world champion again, but he holds one belt rather than the full set he lost to Crawford. The WBC super-middleweight title is the prize he took from Mbilli, who had been moved up to full champion before the bout and was making his first defence of it.
For Mbilli, the defeat ends an unbeaten professional record. He had held the WBC title into fight night and started as the defending champion, yet he could not hold off Alvarez over the second half. No next opponent for either man was named in the reports checked after the fight.
Undercard results from Riyadh
The supporting bouts produced two title retentions and one close undercard verdict. The full results that matter for the record are set out below.
| Bout | Result |
| Jaime Munguia vs Nikita Zon, WBA super-middleweight title | Munguia won by unanimous decision, 117-111, 117-111 and 116-112, after surviving a scare in the sixth round |
| Rafael Espinoza vs Ricardo Blandon, WBO featherweight title | Espinoza won by stoppage in round three, after a cut above Blandon’s left eye forced the ringside physician to end the bout at 1 minute 22 seconds of the round |
| Carl Jammes Martin vs David Picasso | Martin won by split decision |
Blandon was a late replacement for Lorenzo Parra, who withdrew before fight week after a pre-fight medical issue. That change was already reflected in the site’s fight coverage before Saturday. Our Canelo vs Mbilli fight guide and fight-week schedule now carry the result, and our Canelo arrival report covers the build-up that led into fight night.
A note on the venue name
The Venue, Riyadh, is the venue named on the official WeBook listing for the fight, and this site uses that name. Some post-fight reports used the Kingdom Arena name instead. The two names refer to different buildings in Riyadh, so readers planning a visit should follow the WeBook listing, which is the ticket seller’s own record.
What comes next in Riyadh Season
The boxing weekend is done, and attention moves to the next headline date. WWE Crown Jewel takes place at The Venue, Riyadh, on Saturday 7 November 2026, with tickets back on sale through WeBook. Our Crown Jewel tickets update sets out the new sale and the four confirmed matches, and the Riyadh Season guide tracks the rest of the season calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Canelo vs Mbilli?
Canelo Alvarez won by unanimous decision over 12 rounds on Saturday 31 October 2026 in Riyadh. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for Alvarez.
What title did Canelo win?
Alvarez regained the WBC super-middleweight title. He had lost the undisputed championship to Terence Crawford in September 2025, and this win puts one world belt back in his hands.
Who won on the undercard?
Jaime Munguia kept the WBA super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Nikita Zon, Rafael Espinoza kept the WBO featherweight title with a third-round stoppage of Ricardo Blandon, and Carl Jammes Martin beat David Picasso by split decision.
Where did the fight take place?
The fight took place at The Venue in Riyadh, the venue named on the official WeBook listing. Some post-fight reports used the Kingdom Arena name, but the ticket seller’s listing names The Venue.
Sources and further reading
USA Today: Canelo Alvarez defeats Christian Mbilli, results and fight card highlights
DAZN: Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli live updates and results