In September, Christian Mbili will look to retain his WBC super middleweight world title with a Canelo Alvarez.
Canelo became the first undisputed champion in the history of the 168-pound scene when he knocked out Caleb Plant in 2021, and became undisputed twice with a victory over William Scull last year, bringing back the IBF, which he left shortly before.
The Mexican superstar then met his match when the undefeated Crawford made an ambitious leap up the division and decisioned Canelo at his own weight – one of the most iconic victories in boxing in recent years.
Canelo now has an immediate opportunity to win one of his belts in a comeback. He challenges newly crowned WBC title holder Mbili in three months.
Talking to “Ring” magazine.Mbili said he thinks Canelo has a lot of miles on the clock and that his performances have been declining recently.
“Of course (he refused), he started (boxing) very young, I think he was 15 years old, so he has had a lot of fights now. I think his performance (levels) are dropping, but he is still very dangerous. I think this is the perfect time for me.”
Continuing, Mbili vowed to make a statement when he faces the four-division world champion, calling himself a “very dangerous” proposition for the 35-year-old.
“I think I’m a very dangerous fighter for him, but I also have to be careful because it’s Canelo. He’s not a small boxer, but I think I’ll make a very (big) statement in this fight and I’m very dangerous for him.”
Mbili-Canelo takes place on September 12 in Riyadh, and a unification of the winner is likely to take place as Hamza Shiraz makes an attempt to make a statement of his own.