Christian Mbilli's promoter Camille Estephan has suggested that Canelo Alvarez may have swayed the referee during their world title clash in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, though he stopped short of making a direct accusation. According to Sky Sports, the Mexican superstar reclaimed the WBC world super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision, with the three judges scoring the bout 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 in his favour.
The pivotal moment came in the eighth round when referee Hector Afu deducted a point from Mbilli for striking to the back of the head. The infraction occurred immediately after Canelo gestured towards the official during an exchange along the ropes, prompting Estephan's concerns about potential influence.
Close fight, hats off to Canelo - a great performance. As far as the ref, it seemed like he was influenced to take that point off. But I'm not in his shoes. I can't understand what went through his mind. Regardless, there will be many more big fights for Christian. He belongs.
Estephan's measured response acknowledged Canelo's quality while raising questions about the officiating. The point deduction proved consequential in what had been a competitive contest, particularly as Mbilli appeared to be mounting momentum heading into the championship rounds.
According to CBS Sports, Alvarez controlled the second half of the bout after an even opening stretch, outlanding Mbilli 158–117 in total punches. ESPN's CompuBox data credited Alvarez with 132 power punches landed compared to Mbilli's 99, underlining the Mexican's dominance in the latter stages.
The judges who rendered the decision were Guido Cavalleri, Jorge Luciano Gorini and Barry Lindenman, with all three scoring the bout in Alvarez's favour despite Mbilli's aggressive approach throughout.
Canelo's return to the ring marked a significant moment in his career following a stunning loss to Terence Crawford a year earlier. That defeat cost him his undisputed super-middleweight crown and ended his reign as holder of the division's four major titles, leaving questions about whether the Mexican superstar could reclaim his status at the elite level.
Mbilli had been elevated to full WBC champion following Crawford's departure from the division. The Cameroon-born fighter had previously held the interim title after his victory over Maciej Sulecki in June 2025.
The 31-year-old's record now stands at one loss in his professional career. Before Saturday's defeat, Mbilli had fought to a split draw against Lester Martinez on the undercard of the Alvarez-Crawford showdown, which ended a remarkable run of 29 consecutive professional victories.
Mbilli responded to the loss with a measured statement on Instagram, writing in French:
Last night didn't go the way I wanted. I'll learn from this experience, get back in the gym, and come back stronger. Thank you to my team and to all of you for your messages of support.
The loss represents a setback for a fighter who had been building momentum in the super-middleweight division. Mbilli's aggressive style, which saw him average 78 punches thrown per round across five recent bouts according to pre-fight analysis, proved insufficient against Canelo's experience and ring control on the night.
