Christian Mbilli has expressed his ambition to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed super middleweight title, provided both fighters emerge victorious from their respective bouts this Saturday night, September 13, on Netflix at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Predictions for Canelo vs. Crawford
Mbilli, who is based in Canada, anticipates a Canelo victory over Terence Crawford in their headline fight. He believes Crawford will find it difficult to ascend three weight divisions and exert the same dominance over Canelo as he has in lower weight classes.
Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) is slated to defend his WBC interim 168-lb title against Lester Martinez in a 10-round contest on the Canelo vs. Crawford undercard. Surprisingly, the Mbilli-Martinez fight is not the co-feature; it is positioned below the Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr. match on the card.
Turki Alalshikh has not yet made a firm announcement regarding Canelo’s next opponent if he defeats Crawford. Mbilli would be a strong candidate, a choice that would likely please many fans in the U.S. and Canada.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain who Turki will ultimately select. It would not be unexpected if he opts for #1 WBC Hamzah Sheeraz as Alvarez’s next challenger, bypassing Mbilli.
The Pursuit of the Top Spot
“The ultimate aim is to become champion, to reach the #1 position. Currently, I’m #2, and following this fight, I hope to challenge the #1 in the division,” Christian Mbilli stated at today’s press conference, expressing his aspirations to face the undisputed super middleweight champion if he successfully overcomes Lester Martinez on Saturday night.
Mbilli must first contend with Martinez (19-0, 16 KOs), a formidable puncher ranked #3 by the WBA, #7 by the WBC, and #15 by the WBO. This fighter is known for his aggressive style and is expected to engage in a fierce battle on Saturday. A potential disadvantage for the 29-year-old Guatemalan, Martinez, is that he has not faced any particularly noteworthy opponents throughout his six-year professional career.
“I anticipate Canelo winning, as he is a genuine super middleweight. In my opinion, it’s not feasible to simply add weight and replicate past performances,” Mbilli commented when asked for his prediction on the Canelo vs. Crawford main event scheduled for Saturday.
Mbilli doubts Crawford can effectively move up three weight classes and dominate Canelo in the same manner as he did in the lower weight divisions, from welterweight to lightweight. A hint of Crawford’s struggles when moving up just one weight class, from 147 to 154, was seen in his recent fight against Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024.
In that fight, Crawford did not appear to be the same fighter as before and came close to suffering his first career defeat. Now, he is moving up an additional two weight classes, from 154 to 168, without a tune-up fight and after a year-long absence from the ring.
Mbilli conveyed his optimism about securing the Canelo fight, as he is confident in his ability to defeat Martinez, clearing the final obstacle needed for the matchup to materialize. However, the final decision rests with Turki, who might instead choose Hamzah.
Potential Fight of the Night
Christian, aged 29, suggests that his fight against Martinez has the potential to be the “best fight” of the Saturday event, a sentiment that may hold true. On paper, it appears to be a more exciting prospect than both the main event and other undercard bouts. Crawford is expected to box defensively. Therefore, the main event featuring him and Canelo may not be as action-packed.
Mbilli admitted that he felt “disappointed” upon learning that he would be facing Lester Martinez, as he initially desired a “big name fighter.” However, lacking alternative options, he was compelled to accept the fight, although he still considers it to be a “great fight.”
