Saul "Canelo" Alvarez during the game International Friendly on September 7, 2024. IMAGO / Agencia-MexSport

Promoter Reveals Only ‘True’ Test For Canelo Alvarez In Super Middleweight Division

Originally posted on KO on SI | By Apratim Banerjee | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 9:43 PM ET

Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is set for one of the biggest fights of his career next as he faces Terence Crawford on September 13. The superfight will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

While the fight has captured the mainstream media's attention, some purists remain skeptical. They think a two-weight division jump is simply too much for Crawford. There are also claims that Canelo is ducking real challenges to take money fights instead. After all, it's prize fighting, so there's no point blaming Canelo.

One promoter has now claimed that there's only one real challenge for Canelo at super middleweight, Christian Mbilli. The 29-0-0 Frenchman has a stellar 24 knockouts and recently stopped Maciej Sulecki in the first round.

Mbilli is now the WBC interim super middleweight champion, and the 30-year-old's promoter Camille Estephan said after the fight:

There is only one true, official, clear challenger to Canelo and it’s this guy. This is a massive performance. It speaks for itself. He delivers the goods every time.

Canelo Alvarez has fought a who's who of the 168 lbs division and is a two-time undisputed champion. Fans, though, often claim that Canelo strategically avoided David Benavidez. Bob Arum thinks Canelo will also avoid Mbilli, as he recently said:

"There’s nothing to gain for Canelo to fight him. If he gets by Crawford, [Canelo's] gonna look for relatively easy fights. I don’t think Canelo is gonna be a fixture in the division. Canelo, if he beats Crawford, which I don’t think he will, he’s gonna look for some easy touches, finish the contract [with Riyadh Season], make his money and retire. He’s not looking to take any chances. I think Mbilli would beat Canelo. I think [David] Benavidez would beat Canelo. I don’t think Canelo is Canelo anymore.

For now, Canelo is focused on Terence Crawford. He is undefeated in the super middleweight division and is looking to continue his run against 'Bud'.

Arum and Mbilli's camp are confident in their approach. The Canelo avoiding narrative might be a way to get the Mexican's attention and match him up against rising Frenchman Mbilli.

This article first appeared on KO on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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