Canelo Alvarez says experience will count against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh

Canelo Alvarez says he has prepared to match Christian Mbilli’s pace when he challenges for the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh on October 31. In an interview published by ESPN on October 29, Alvarez said his experience could help him handle the unbeaten champion in his first fight since losing to Terence Crawford 13 months ago.

Alvarez told ESPN Deportes editor Ernesto Rodarte that Mbilli has strong stamina and throws many punches. He said his own camp had worked on the stamina needed to respond, alongside the experience gained from years at the top level. Asked what Mbilli would need to do to beat him, Alvarez said: ‘He has to do a lot of things.’ He also called Mbilli a great fighter.

What Alvarez took from the Crawford defeat

The Uncrowned report said Alvarez underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow in late October 2025, roughly six weeks after the Crawford defeat. It reported that he had focused on boxing and regaining his titles during his recovery. Alvarez told ESPN he was happy to be back in training and nearly ready to fight.

Mbilli’s title defence and Alvarez’s plans

Mbilli enters the scheduled defence with a 29-0-1 record, The National reported. His most recent fight was against Lester Martinez on the undercard of Alvarez’s defeat by Crawford. ESPN reported that Alvarez moved his training camp from San Diego to Oleksandr Usyk’s gym in Gandia, Spain, to work closer to Riyadh’s time zone.

The Riyadh bout is set to be Alvarez’s third under a four-fight agreement with Turki Alalshikh, according to The National. Alvarez has spoken of having three or four fights left and wants his last one to take place in Mexico. He told ESPN he pictured fighting at Estadio Azteca after visiting the stadium as a football fan; no farewell bout has been announced.