By Fatma Younis
Canelo Alvarez returned to the ring after a 13-month absence and reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Saturday. The Mexican absorbed heavy punishment during the hard-fought bout, which took place amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Paul vows future fight
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who attended the fight, praised Alvarez on social media but noted he took many punches. “Out of the ring for 13 months but still the same old Canelo. Respect,” Paul wrote. “[He] did take a lot of punches though. We will dance my friend, we will dance.” The two fighters nearly agreed to a match in early 2025 before Alvarez signed a four-fight deal with Saudi promoter Turki Alashikh. Paul confirmed he will return to action on Christmas Eve in Dubai, though his opponent remains unannounced.
