Christian Mbilli vs Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez Preview October 31st, 2026
One of the year’s biggest fights takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Saturday, October 31st as unbeaten WBC Super Middleweight Champion Christian Mbilli defends his belt against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. The 12-rounder can be seen live on DAZN pay-per-view in most nations. Alvarez of Mexico, last boxed in September, 2025 when he dropped a unanimous decision to WBO Champion Terence Crawford and lost his WBC/IBF/WBA Titles.
In his previous outing four months earlier Alvarez took the WBA Belt from William Scull via a highly-controversial unanimous decision in one of the worst title fights in boxing history. Mbilli, who was born in Cameroon and fights out Quebec, Canada, saw action last September as well when he battled to a 10-round draw with undefeated Lester Martinez to retain his interim WBC World Title. Mbilli won the interim world title three months earlier when he stopped Maciej Sulecki in just 148 seconds.
Mbilli vs Alvarez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Christian Mbilli +225
- Saul Alvarez -300
My Pick
The 31-year-old Mbilli enters the ring with a near-perfect record of 29-0-1 with 24 Ko’s. He’s boxed a total of 143 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017. Mbilli enjoyed a fine amateur career as he fought for France at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he was beaten in his third contest. He stands just over 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 72-inch reach. He’s know for his work rate, chin and power as his current knockout ratio clocks in at 82.8 per cent. However he has has gone the distance in four of his past eight fights.
Mbilli has been the distance just six times as a pro though. He was taken the 10-round distance by Lester Martinez, Carlos Gongora, Vaughn Alexander and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. As a pro he’s also captured the vacant WBC World Youth, WBC Youth Continental, and WBC Francophone Titles. Mbilli also won the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Belt in 2021 when he stopped Ronny Landaeta in the third round. He defended it against Ronald Ellis, Nadjib Mohammedi, DeAndre Ware, Alexander, Gongora, Demond Nicholson, Rohan Murdock, Mark Heffron and Derevyanchenko before beating Sulecki for the interim WBC Title.
Alvarez is now 36 years old and since 2020 he has beaten the likes of William Scull, Caleb Plant, Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders to add to his collection of Super Middleweight Titles. Of course he kissed those belts goodbye when Terence Crawford outboxed him last year. Alvarez also defended various belts against Edgar Berlanga, Jaime Munguia, Jermell Charlo, John Ryder, Gennady Golovkin and Avni Ylidirim during that span and beat Rocky Fielding, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev. And let’s not forget his lopsided unanimous decision loss to Dmitry Bivol in 2022 in an attempt at a light heavyweight crown.
Alvarez owns a 63-3-2 record with 39 Ko’s with his first defeat being a majority decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2013. His two draws were a highly-disputed 12-round affair with Golovkin in the first meeting of their trilogy in 2017 as well as a four-round battle against Jorge Juarez back in 2006. Alvarez stands just under 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 70.5 inch so gives up an inch in height and 1.5-inches in reach to Mbilli. Alvarez has a wealth of experience under his belt as he turned pro in 2005 when he was just 15 years old has 532 rounds in the bank since then.
He’s taken on and beaten several other tough opponents and world champions over the years such as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto, James Kirkland, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Shane Mosley, Josesito Lopez, Kermit Cintron, Carlos Baldomir, and Alfredo Angulo. He’s also held world titles in the junior middleweight, middleweight and light heavyweight divisions as well as minor belts as a welterweight. Alvarez used to have good power as 61.9 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage but he’s gone the distance in his last eight fights and in 10 of his past 18.
While he may now lack power, Alvarez is still in possession of his granite chin and quick hands. Crawford, Bivol, Plant, Golovkin, Mayweather, Lara and Khan to some degree, all showed that Canelo can be outboxed in stages. This is mainly die to having difficulty handling a quick, stiff jab and fluid movement. Even so, Alvarez is an above-average boxer-puncher who likes to go to the body but has a bit of difficulty with opponents who are mobile.
Prediction…
It’s probably safe to say that Alvarez is slowing down and is no longer feared for his power. But many fans believe Mbilli’s style is tailor made for him. He can and has been outboxed on several occasions but he’s not often outworked. Mbilli isn’t really a one-punch KO artist as he typically stops opponents due to an accumulation of punches. He simply lets his hands go when the bell rings and his volume punching usually does the trick. If he stays true to this tactic he can overwhelm Alvarez but too many boxers give Canelo too much respect in the ring instead of fighting to their strengths.
I think this fight goes the distance unless Mbilli walks into something when Alvarez counter punches or if he stops Alvarez on his feet. If Mbilli throws leather like he usually does I don’t think Alvarez can keep pace with him. I’m going with Mbilli, but it’s all going to come down to his tactics and fight plan. He has the tools to beat Canelo but will he utilize them is the question. One punch at a time won’t do the trick.
Mbilli in a close fight due to his volume-punching style.
Play: Mbilli +225 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Canelo Alvarez • Christian Mbilli betting • Saul Alvarez betting