As the boxing world turns its attention to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a high-stakes showdown at super-middleweight, former world champion Paulie Malignaggi has offered a compelling assessment of the main event. While acknowledging that Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez boasts the superior technical skills in the matchup, Malignaggi remains deeply unconvinced that the veteran star can successfully dethrone or turn back the challenge of Christian Mbilli.
The two elite super-middleweights are scheduled to square off later today in Saudi Arabia, with Mbilli stepping into the ring to make the very first defense of his WBC world title. The Frenchman was upgraded from interim champion to full champion in December, a significant milestone that arrived just a few months after he fought to an enthralling and hard-fought 10-round draw against Lester Martinez.
That sudden landscape shift in the 168-pound division was largely triggered by the seismic retirement announcement of Terence Crawford. Upon stepping away from the sport, Crawford relinquished the undisputed super-middleweight crown that he had famously acquired by dethroning Canelo. Back when that initial superfight took place, a multitude of pundits and fans felt that the Mexican star would simply be too physically imposing for Crawford, who had boldly moved up two weight classes to challenge the division’s kingpin. However, Crawford defied expectations, neutralizing Canelo’s physical advantages and managing to score a decisive unanimous decision victory in his historic first outing at 168 pounds.
That landmark defeat only added fuel to the raging speculation that Canelo, now at the veteran age of 36 and having endured a gruelling professional career spanning 68 bouts, is no longer capable of performing to the lofty, dominant standards that defined his prime years. As boxing analysts and fans dissect what lies ahead for the Mexican icon, Malignaggi has pointed out a glaring stylistic threat. The former champion has suggested that Mbilli, a relentless competitor who typically fights at a frenetic, non-stop pace, could ultimately succeed in outworking Alvarez over the course of 12 grueling rounds.
Delving deeper into his tactical analysis, Malignaggi highlighted the specific challenges that age and high-tempo fighting styles present to a fighter of Canelo’s pedigree. Expounding on his perspective, Malignaggi remarked on the physical realities facing the veteran star: "I think Canelo’s more skilled than Mbilli, but I don’t think, at 36 years old, that fighting at a high pace – when you couldn’t handle a fast pace in your prime – is the smartest thing."
Malignaggi was careful to acknowledge the fierce competitive fire that has kept Canelo at the pinnacle of the sport for over a decade, noting that he holds a deep respect for the Mexican’s enduring warrior spirit. At the same time, the former titleholder emphasized the sheer magnitude of the obstacle standing across the ring. "I get the competitiveness of Canelo – and I respect it, actually. But it’s a tough fight against Mbilli. I don’t know if Canelo can offset that pace."
Beyond the tactical clash between Canelo’s world-class boxing IQ and Mbilli’s relentless engine, both fighters enter this Riyadh encounter under similar circumstances regarding ring rust. With Mbilli, much like Canelo himself, having not competed in an official professional bout in well over a year, fight fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how both men shake off the inactivity. It will be particularly fascinating to observe whether the Frenchman can immediately recapture and maintain his trademark intensity under the bright lights of Saudi Arabia, or if the veteran mastery of Canelo can find a way to temper the storm.
