Canelo Alvarez regains WBC belt, re-enters top 10 after 13-month layoff
The 36-year-old Mexican fighter moved from unranked to ninth place after defeating Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision in his return from surgery.
By Mei Melnyk ·
Canelo Alvarez moved from unranked to ninth on the pound-for-pound list following his return to the ring last Saturday. The 36-year-old Mexican fighter defeated Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision to reclaim the WBC super middleweight title. This victory marks his first fight in 13 months, a period that included elbow surgery and a loss to Terence Crawford. Alvarez now holds a professional record of 64 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 35 knockouts.
The fight dynamics shifted in the second half as Alvarez took control. He utilized precise counterpunching and effective head movement to limit Mbilli’s ability to exchange punches. The Mexican fighter’s discipline allowed him to dominate the later rounds of the bout. This performance demonstrated his continued effectiveness despite his age and the extended break from competition.
Alvarez competes in his 21st year as a professional boxer. He is now approaching his 69th career bout. His ability to adjust his strategy has been a key factor in his longevity. He has become a more efficient fighter with age, relying on his fight intelligence to manage opponents. This approach has helped him maintain a high level of performance for over a decade.
The fighter has expressed a desire to secure rematches against Terence Crawford and Dmitry Bivol. Crawford defeated Alvarez in September last year before retiring. Bivol is the unified light heavyweight champion and is scheduled to fight Callum Smith on December 12. Alvarez currently competes in the 168-pound division, which also includes Hamzah Sheeraz, Lester Martinez, and Janibek Alimkhabuly.
The updated rankings place Naoya Inoue at number one. Inoue remains the undisputed junior featherweight champion with a record of 33 wins, all by knockout, and 27 stoppages. Jesse Rodriguez is second, while David Benavidez holds the third spot. Benavidez is scheduled to defend his cruiserweight titles against Michael Cieslak on December 12. Shakur Stevenson and Oleksandr Usyk round out the top five.
Devin Haney moved up from ninth to eighth place. He defeated Brian Norman Jr. in November to become a three-division champion. Haney is set to unify the welterweight titles against Liam Paro in December. Jaron Ennis remains at seventh, having knocked out Xander Zayas in June. O'Shaquie Foster holds the tenth spot after unifying three junior featherweight titles against Emanuel Navarrete in October.
Source: CBS Sports
