Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez rules the super-middleweight division with an iron fist. The Mexican superstar boasts an impressive record of 62 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. In the 168lb weight class, he's unbeaten in all 11 of his fights.
Canelo recently defended his WBC, WBA, and WBO titles against Edgar Berlanga in September. He won by unanimous decision, cementing his status as the top dog in the division. His list of victories reads like a who's who of boxing, including names like Gennady Golovkin, Caleb Plant, Callum Smith, Jermell Charlo, Billy Joe Saunders, and Jaime Munguia.
But who can challenge the king? David Benavidez, with his perfect 29-0 record and 24 knockouts, seemed like a strong contender. However, he's moved up to light-heavyweight, and a fight with Canelo doesn't look likely in the near future.
Enter Christian Mbilli. The undefeated fighter (28-0 with 23 KOs) is currently ranked number one by the WBC and could be in line for a shot at Canelo. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum thinks Mbilli might be the one to dethrone Alvarez.
In a recent interview with FightHype.com, Arum didn't mince words:
"We really think that Mbilli would give Canelo a hell of a fight, I think he would beat Canelo, but whatever it would be a really good fight. I think Mbilli also would be very competitive with Benavidez. He is really a force to be reckoned with."
Arum's stance is noteworthy. Previously, he couldn't pick a winner between Canelo and Benavidez. Now, he's boldly backing Mbilli to upset the odds.
For Canelo, a fight with Mbilli could make financial sense too. It's a bigger money bout than some of his recent defenses. As the super-middleweight king continues to seek out worthy challengers, Mbilli's name might just be at the top of the list.
