Álvarez Wins Unanimous Decision Over Mbilli to Reclaim WBC Super Middleweight Title in Riyadh

Saúl Álvarez of Mexico reclaimed the WBC super middleweight title on Saturday night with a unanimous decision over Christian Mbilli at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The judges scored the bout 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 for Álvarez, who was fighting for the first time in more than a year after losing his undisputed title to Terence Crawford in September 2025. Mbilli, who entered with 29 wins and one draw, had been promoted to full champion by the WBC after Crawford retired. The fight went ahead despite a week of security concerns, when the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted missiles and drones launched by Iran-aligned Houthi forces. Several events in the kingdom, including the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, were cancelled or postponed.

The New York Post's coverage was a pre-fight viewing guide, published before the result, listing start times, the full card and pay-per-view access, and it reported no outcome. The Guardian led with Álvarez's win and the Houthi threat over Riyadh, quoting Álvarez's remarks about his team and his love of boxing and highlighting a seventh-round uppercut. Alternative outlets diverged: CBS Sports ran a stream and card preview framing Álvarez as a veteran returning from the Crawford loss, while ESPN reported a dominant win. Left and alternative coverage agree on the result and the scores, while the right-leaning piece focuses on how to watch.