The World Boxing Council confirms Álvarez reclaimed its title. The Guardian reports judges’ scores of 115–112, 116–111 and 117–110. Its account says Mbilli lost a point for a punch to the back, while its photo caption describes punching behind the head.
Canelo Álvarez reclaimed the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight championship by defeating Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on 31 October 2026. All judges favored Álvarez after 12 rounds, making the result a unanimous decision. The WBC has officially confirmed the title change.
The official scores were 115–112, 116–111 and 117–110, all for Álvarez.
Álvarez entered as the challenger after losing his undisputed super-middleweight championship to Terence Crawford 13 months earlier. The 36-year-old Álvarez is Mexican. Mbilli, a 31-year-old Cameroon-born Frenchman, was making his first defense of the full WBC title and entered unbeaten.
The WBC’s account says Mbilli lost a point in the eighth round for a punch to the back. A photo caption in the same account instead describes punching behind the head.
The Guardian’s live coverage also described the foul as punching behind the head and said referee Hector Afu deducted the point following complaints from Álvarez.
The victory makes Álvarez a three-time super-middleweight champion.
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