The Mexican superstar is currently preparing to return to action later this month when he challenges Christian Mbilli for his coveted WBC super-middleweight title. However, the build-up to the October 31 clash in Riyadh has faced lingering questions and concerns due to recent regional unrest and security developments in the area. Despite these external anxieties, the blockbuster bout remains scheduled to go ahead as planned for now. For Canelo, the upcoming encounter represents a vital opportunity to reclaim world honours once again, having suffered a devastating blow in September 2025 when he lost his undisputed super-middleweight crown to American pound-for-pound maestro Terence Crawford.
It quickly appears that Canelo already knows exactly what he wants next should he emerge victorious against the formidable Mbilli. Speaking candidly in a revealing interview with The Ring during a visit to Oleksandr Usyk’s training camp in Spain, the former multi-division champion made it clear that he is extremely keen to secure an immediate and career-defining rematch with Crawford.
Reflecting on the competitive nature of their first encounter, Canelo shared deep tactical insights into where the fight was won and lost. "I always do good in the rematches so I hope that fight happen again," Canelo told veteran insider Mike Coppinger. "[I’ve watched it] like five times and it was very close. There was not much [in it]. Like I said, there was very little [in it] to have the win or loss. I know what happened and I know my mistakes. He is a great fighter and you need to be one hundred percent [to face him]."
The admission highlights the analytical mindset that has kept Canelo at the very pinnacle of combat sports for over a decade. Having studied the tape of their initial meeting half a dozen times, the Guadalajara native is convinced that minor adjustments could yield a completely different outcome should they share the ring a second time.
Canelo has previously spoken openly about the specific tactical and physical hurdles he encountered during his tactical chess match with Crawford. Over the course of his legendary career, the Mexican icon has indeed proven to be a master of the second fight, famously adapting to his opponents during high-profile rivalries. Most notably, Canelo claimed two hard-fought victories over Gennady Golovkin after their initial meeting controversially ended in a tense draw, showcasing his ability to decipher elite opposition over the course of twelve rounds.
However, orchestrating a second meeting with Crawford presents a unique and formidable set of promotional obstacles. Following his historic victory over Canelo in late 2025, Crawford officially hung up the boxing gloves in December, deciding to walk away from the sport on his own terms at the absolute zenith of his powers. Consequently, it remains entirely to be seen whether the undefeated American star could ever be successfully enticed to come out of retirement for a second meeting with his past Mexican foe.
Compounding the difficulty of securing the matchup is Crawford’s apparent lack of interest in returning for other lucrative encounters. Before stepping away from the sport, the multi-weight world champion had already dismissed various potential high-profile bouts against modern stars such as Ryan Garcia and rising welterweight terror Jaron Ennis, indicating that his retirement decision was definitive and deeply considered.
As Canelo prepares to step under the bright lights of Riyadh to face Christian Mbilli later this month, his long-term ambitions are firmly established. While his immediate focus must remain fully locked on the dangerous task ahead at super-middleweight, the ghosts of his defeat to Terence Crawford continue to loom large over his career trajectory. Whether the boxing world will ever witness the two generational talents lock horns inside the squared circle once more will ultimately depend on Canelo’s performance against Mbilli and whether Crawford can be tempted back from retirement for one final, historic dance.
