Canelo Alvarez returns to box for the first time since losing to Terence Crawford; Canelo is facing Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight world championship; “I’m the challenger now, but in my mind I’ve always been the champion, ever since I was a little kid,” Canelo said Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli both made the weight for their WBC super-middleweight world title fight on Saturday in Riyadh. Canelo was 167.6lb with Mbilli a fraction heavier at 167.8lb. Alvarez is looking to win back one of the world titles he used to hold in his first fight since his stunning loss to Terence Crawford last year. When Crawford retired it left the four major world championships vacant and Mbilli became the WBC titlist.
“I’m the challenger now, but in my mind I’ve always been the champion, ever since I was a little kid,” Canelo said. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player He elected to go straight in with Mbilli, a high-calibre, tough, aggressive fighter, right off the back of that defeat. “I don’t believe in shortcuts. I want to become a world champion again, and that’s why I want to face the best.
Mbilli is the world champion,” Canelo said. Mbilli, unbeaten with only one draw in his 30-fight professional career, declared: “I have a lot of respect for Canelo and his career, and I congratulate him on everything he has achieved. But inside the ring, it will be a different story, and I’m coming to win. “I’m ready to shock the world.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The event in Riyadh is going ahead amid escalating conflict in the region.
Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi airports, including Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, while security concerns have led to the postponement or cancellation of other sporting events in the kingdom. “You know, fighting in Saudi for me is special and whatever it takes I’m going to be a world champion again,” Canelo has said. “Because I’m a fighter and I want to achieve a lot of things in boxing yet and that motivates myself. I love boxing.” Matthew Hatton boxed Canelo back in 2011, in the first world title fight of the Mexican superstar’s career.
He thinks this fight could affect Canelo’s legacy. “I do think he’s still got enough left to beat Mbilli. I think it’s an interesting fight,” Hatton told the Toe2Toe podcast. But he warned: “I know people say it doesn’t tarnish their legacy but for me, slightly, it does.
Say he was to lose to Mbilli on the weekend for me it does tarnish that a little bit. “We all look at that differently. I would like to see him retire now. “Personally I would like to see Canelo stop now, he’s had such a good career, he’s had a fantastic legacy and I think it’s a shame when they go on too long.”
