While having named Terence Crawford his ideal opponent, Canelo Alvarez has also highlighted a more realistic fight that could materialise if he dethrones Christian Mbilli. The two super-middleweights are set to square off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later today, with Mbilli making the first defense of his WBC world title. The high-stakes showdown represents a critical juncture in the 168-pound division, capturing the attention of the global boxing community as Alvarez looks to cement his status once again at the elite level.
Mbilli was elevated from interim to full champion last December, just a few months after boxing to an enthralling and hard-fought 10-round draw with Lester Martinez. That performance showcased his resilience, power, and relentless pressure, earning him the respect of boxing purists and setting the stage for his current championship reign. That same night, in a bout that shook the foundations of the sport, Canelo lost his undisputed crown to Terence Crawford. Crawford had moved up two weight divisions from welterweight to challenge the Mexican superstar and ultimately secured a career-defining unanimous decision victory through a masterclass in tactical boxing and ring IQ.
The American pound-for-pound star then announced his retirement from the sport—hence why Mbilli was subsequently upgraded to full champion by the sanctioning body—yet Canelo remains hopeful that a rematch can nonetheless be explored down the road should Crawford decide to lace up the gloves again. The allure of avenging the lone blemish of that magnitude on his recent record remains a powerful motivator for Alvarez, who has never shied away from the toughest challenges available in the sport.
Alternatively, though, the Mexican icon would also be open to a second encounter with Dmitry Bivol, who won their first contest via a comprehensive unanimous decision when they collided in Las Vegas in 2022. In that initial meeting, Bivol’s exceptional footwork, disciplined jab, and formidable size advantage at light-heavyweight proved to be too much for Alvarez to overcome over twelve rounds, handing Canelo only the second defeat of his legendary professional career.
Since that pivotal night, the Russian technician has gone on to achieve even greater heights in the sport, ultimately becoming the undisputed king at 175 pounds. His historic journey culminated in a brilliant majority decision triumph over rival Artur Beterbiev in February 2025, a bout that unified all the major world titles in the division and cemented Bivol’s legacy as one of the finest fighters of his era. Following a wide points victory over challenger Michael Eifert earlier this year, Bivol is now scheduled to defend his three major belts against Callum Smith on December 12.
If Bivol emerges triumphant in Russia against Smith, the 35-year-old champion could very well enter negotiations for a lucrative rematch with Canelo. Alvarez has explicitly told Stephen A. Smith that a second fight against the undefeated Russian would certainly appeal to him as a realistic and exciting prospect in 2027. Speaking on the potential matchup, Alvarez made his intentions clear regarding his future ambitions. Outside of Terence Crawford, I think Bivol is a fight I really like, Alvarez noted, signaling his desire to test himself once more against the man who previously solved his puzzle at light-heavyweight.
While Canelo must first navigate the immense threat posed by Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, it also remains to be seen whether he would choose to go back up to 175 pounds for a shot at redemption or attempt to bring Bivol down to a catchweight of some description to appease the weight class differences. The logistical details of a potential second fight would undoubtedly involve complex negotiations regarding weight limits, given that Alvarez traditionally operates most comfortably at super-middleweight while Bivol has established his absolute dominance in the light-heavyweight division.
For his part, the Russian standout has openly acknowledged Alvarez as a major part of his future plans. Bivol has named a rematch with Alvarez as one of his top three preferred options for his career going forward, sitting alongside a high-stakes trilogy fight with Artur Beterbiev and an anticipated clash with undefeated Mexican star David Benavidez. With so many lucrative and legacy-defining options on the table for both men, the path forward will largely depend on the outcome of their respective upcoming bouts, starting with Alvarez’s clash against Mbilli and Bivol’s defense against Callum Smith in December.
