Canelo Alvarez is a world champion once again. And after everything the Mexican superstar has achieved throughout his extraordinary career, there is something genuinely satisfying about seeing him return to the top of the sport.
On Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Canelo defeated Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision to reclaim the WBC super-middleweight championship.
It was an impressive response from a fighter whose future had been questioned following his defeat to Terence Crawford in September 2025.
And I am pleased to see him back.
However, while Canelo Alvarez deserves enormous credit for becoming a world champion again, I cannot help wondering whether this victory answers the biggest question surrounding his career.
Can Canelo still consistently compete with the very best fighters in the world, or are we watching an exceptional boxer use his experience to compensate for the physical attributes he is gradually losing?
Because those are two very different things.
Canelo Alvarez Deserves Credit for Beating Christian Mbilli
Before discussing Canelo’s future, I think it is important to acknowledge what he has just accomplished.
Christian Mbilli was not some carefully selected opponent brought in to provide an ageing superstar with an easy route back to championship status.
He entered the contest unbeaten, having established himself as a dangerous and aggressive super-middleweight with the strength, pressure and ambition to trouble experienced opponents.
At 31, Mbilli was also five years younger than Canelo.
And for portions of the opening half of the contest, his aggression presented the Mexican with problems to solve.
However, as the rounds progressed, Canelo Alvarez demonstrated the qualities that have made him one of boxing’s outstanding fighters.
His counter-punching became increasingly effective, his timing disrupted Mbilli’s attacks, and his ability to dictate the exchanges allowed him to take greater control.
It was a reminder that boxing intelligence is not something a fighter necessarily loses with age.
Canelo understood what was happening in front of him and made the adjustments required to win.
That deserves recognition.
But there is also a danger in allowing the emotion surrounding his return to overshadow the questions that existed before the contest.
The Terence Crawford Defeat Cannot Simply Be Forgotten
When Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez in September 2025, I was concerned by what I had witnessed.
And I stand by that assessment.
In my original article, I discussed why the defeat raised questions about where Canelo stood at that stage of his career.
You can read my original reaction here:
Those concerns have not disappeared simply because he has won another world championship.
Crawford did not defeat Canelo through a fortunate decision or an isolated moment that changed the contest.
He outboxed him.
More importantly, in my opinion, Crawford also showed that he could stand his ground and fight Canelo when necessary.
That was particularly significant because Crawford had moved up in weight to challenge a man who had spent years establishing himself as the dominant figure at super-middleweight.
Yet it was Crawford who frequently looked more comfortable.
His movement, speed, timing and tactical awareness prevented Canelo from imposing himself in the manner we had become accustomed to seeing.
And when Crawford chose to exchange punches, he demonstrated that he was not intimidated by the Mexican’s reputation or physical strength.
For me, that was the most concerning aspect of the defeat.
Canelo was not simply beaten by a brilliant tactical performance. He was beaten by a fighter who appeared capable of matching him in several areas where Canelo had traditionally enjoyed an advantage.
Of course, Crawford is an exceptional boxer, and losing to somebody of his quality is hardly evidence that a fighter is finished.
But the manner of the defeat matters.
And beating Mbilli does not automatically mean Canelo would produce a different performance against an opponent with Crawford’s particular combination of attributes.
Experience Can Win Fights, but It Cannot Stop Ageing
One of the most remarkable things about Canelo Alvarez is how long he has been competing professionally.
He made his professional debut in 2005.
That means he has spent more than two decades fighting, developing and adapting against opponents across several weight divisions.
He has competed against Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Bivol, Miguel Cotto, Sergey Kovalev and Terence Crawford, among many others.
Few modern fighters can match that level of experience.
And experience remains an enormous advantage.
Canelo knows how to manage distance, recognise patterns and punish mistakes. He understands when to apply pressure and when to conserve energy.
Against Mbilli, those qualities were clearly evident.
However, there comes a point in every fighter’s career when experience begins compensating for physical decline rather than complementing physical excellence.
I wonder whether Canelo is approaching that stage.
At 36, he is hardly ancient by modern boxing standards.
But a fighter’s age cannot be measured simply by the number on his birth certificate.
The number of professional contests, the intensity of training camps, the injuries accumulated and the punishment absorbed all contribute to the physical demands of a career.
Canelo has fought 69 professional contests.
That is an extraordinary amount of experience, but it also represents an extraordinary amount of wear.
And while his timing and intelligence remain exceptional, it is reasonable to question whether his reactions, footwork and ability to sustain a high tempo are quite what they once were.
That does not mean he has suddenly become a poor fighter.
Far from it.
It means the margin for error may be getting smaller.
Can Canelo Alvarez Still Beat the Best Super-Middleweights?
This is where I believe the conversation needs to move beyond celebrating another championship.
Canelo Alvarez has proved that he remains capable of defeating a legitimate world champion.
What he has not necessarily proved is that he can consistently defeat every type of elite opponent at super-middleweight.
There is a difference.
Mbilli’s aggressive approach gave Canelo opportunities to use his timing, counter-punching and defensive experience.
But what happens against a fighter who refuses to provide those opportunities?
What happens against somebody who can control the distance, maintain a high work rate and force Canelo to pursue them for twelve rounds?
Or an opponent who possesses the speed and technical ability to win exchanges without remaining in range long enough to be countered?
Those questions became particularly relevant following the Crawford defeat.
And I do not believe the Mbilli victory answers all of them.
That is not intended as disrespect towards Christian Mbilli.
He was a worthy champion and presented a legitimate challenge.
But boxing is a sport of styles, and defeating one excellent fighter does not guarantee success against another.
Canelo remains one of the most technically accomplished boxers in the world.
Whether he remains capable of overcoming every elite style is a different question entirely.
Does Becoming Undisputed Again Really Improve His Legacy?
Naturally, becoming WBC super-middleweight champion again creates the possibility of further unification contests.
And given Canelo’s achievements, nobody would be surprised if he attempted to regain all four major championships.
But I have to ask whether becoming undisputed again would meaningfully improve his legacy.
Canelo Alvarez has already achieved that distinction.
He has won world championships across four weight divisions, defeated numerous elite opponents and established himself as one of the defining fighters of his generation.
His place in boxing history is secure.
Would another undisputed championship be impressive?
Absolutely.
Would it fundamentally change how we remember him?
I am not convinced.
There are certainly challenges that could add something meaningful to his career.
A contest against an outstanding younger fighter such as Hamzah Sheeraz would test whether Canelo can continue resisting the next generation.
A rematch with Dmitry Bivol would offer the opportunity to address another significant defeat, although returning to light-heavyweight would bring considerable risks.
And the long-discussed possibility of facing David Benavidez would undoubtedly attract enormous attention, even if it required negotiations over weight.
But there is an important distinction between a challenge being commercially attractive and it being necessary for a fighter’s legacy.
Canelo does not need another championship to prove he belongs among the greats.
He has already done that.
The Danger of Staying Too Long
Boxing has an unfortunate history of great champions continuing beyond the point when their physical abilities can support their ambitions.
Sometimes the decline happens gradually.
A fighter loses a little speed, struggles to pull the trigger or begins absorbing punches that would once have been avoided.
Other times, the deterioration becomes obvious almost overnight.
And because these fighters have spent years performing at an exceptional level, supporters can be reluctant to accept what they are witnessing.
We remember the champion at his absolute best.
We expect to see that version again.
But boxing does not work like that.
Father Time eventually catches everybody, regardless of talent, dedication or reputation.
That is why I am slightly concerned about what comes next for Canelo Alvarez.
Not because I believe he should announce his retirement immediately.
And certainly not because I think his victory over Mbilli was insignificant.
My concern is that another world championship could encourage people to believe he has completely reversed the effects of time.
He has not.
Nobody can.
Canelo may still have several outstanding performances left in him. He may even become undisputed champion again.
But every additional demanding contest carries a risk, particularly against younger opponents who have spent their careers preparing for the opportunity to defeat him.
And I would hate to see somebody who has contributed so much to boxing continue simply because he feels he has to prove that he is still the man he once was.
Canelo Has Earned the Right to Decide His Own Future
There is another side to this argument that deserves consideration.
Canelo Alvarez has earned the right to make his own decisions.
He has dedicated most of his life to boxing, competed at the highest level and generated extraordinary interest in the sport.
If he believes he can continue competing against elite opponents, he is entitled to pursue those opportunities.
And after defeating Mbilli, it would be ridiculous to suggest that he no longer belongs at world championship level.
He has just demonstrated otherwise.
However, I also believe there is a responsibility to distinguish between what a fighter wants and what supporters should reasonably expect.
We cannot demand that Canelo continue producing performances identical to those of his physical prime.
Nor should we interpret every difficult contest as evidence that his greatness has somehow diminished.
A fighter can remain exceptional without being quite as exceptional as he once was.
That is the distinction I think supporters need to recognise.
And perhaps Canelo himself will eventually have to consider it.
Canelo Alvarez Has Nothing Left to Prove
For me, the victory over Christian Mbilli is something to celebrate.
Canelo Alvarez returned from a disappointing defeat, challenged a younger world champion and demonstrated that his technical brilliance remains capable of delivering success at the highest level.
That is a tremendous achievement after more than two decades in professional boxing.
But I am not prepared to forget what happened against Terence Crawford.
I still believe Crawford outboxed him, matched him when they exchanged punches and exposed weaknesses that cannot simply be dismissed as an isolated bad night.
And while Canelo deserves credit for responding with another championship victory, the question of whether he can consistently compete with the very best remains legitimate.
Perhaps he will prove those doubts wrong.
I would genuinely enjoy seeing him do it.
But there is also nothing wrong with acknowledging that one of boxing’s greatest modern champions may be entering the final stages of an extraordinary career.
Canelo Alvarez does not need to become undisputed again.
He does not need to chase another weight division.
And he certainly does not need to continue fighting until the sport eventually forces him to stop.
His greatness was established long before he defeated Christian Mbilli.
The question is no longer whether Canelo Alvarez belongs among boxing’s greats. It is how much longer he can continue performing at a level worthy of his extraordinary reputation.
And personally, I would rather see him walk away with his legacy intact than watch another great champion discover that he stayed too long.
Have Your Say – Is Canelo Still Among the World’s Best?
Canelo Alvarez is a world champion again, but has his victory over Christian Mbilli convinced you that he can still defeat the very best fighters in the world?
Or do you share my concerns following his defeat to Terence Crawford?
Would you like to see Canelo pursue another undisputed championship, take on a particular rival, or begin thinking about retirement while he is still competing at the top?
I want to hear what you think. Share your opinions in the comments, tell me who you believe Canelo should face next, and whether you think his best days are genuinely behind him.
And if you enjoy independent boxing opinion, analysis and discussion that goes beyond simply reporting the results, visit CMBoxing for more articles covering the biggest names, important issues and stories shaping the sport.