As rumors surrounding a potential fight between the international “superstar,” Canelo Alvarez, and adopted Quebecer Christian Mbilli intensify, several questions remain. Can we expect to see the fight in 2026?
Camille Estephan was questioned at the latest gala presented by Eye of the Tiger regarding the progress of this fight, one that is now attracting the attention of the entire boxing world.
Estephan stated that for the first time since the beginning of the negotiations, which started even before Christian became champion, it is now Team “Solide” that holds the upper hand. And that’s true, they are the ones who hold the belt.
So for a 168-lb fighter, that alone is huge. If Canelo wants to face you, you jump at the opportunity. In today’s boxing world, there is no better opportunity to prove yourself than against the red-haired star.
Photo: IG – Christian Mbilli and Camille Estephan
Christian has also made his ambitions clear: he is the one holding the belt, and he doesn’t want this fight just to get paid, he wants to show his fans why the Mexican avoided him for so long. In no world does he see himself losing the belt he worked so hard to earn.
So both fighters want the fight. Why hasn’t it been announced yet?
The location of the fight
When Camille Estephan met with the media after the March 5 gala, he revealed that Mr. Turki Al-Sheikh wanted the fight to take place in Saudi Arabia.
However, at the moment that part of the world is a little less attractive than it once was. Let’s put it that way.
So we can assume that a new location is actively being sought. The good news is that you generally don’t have to beg someone to agree to host Canelo Alvarez in their arena.
Photo: Canelo Alvarez, Turki Al-Sheikh and Christian Mbilli
For now, Las Vegas and Mexico have been mentioned by certain sources, but nothing confirms that serious talks have begun.
We know very well that the T-Mobile Arena has hosted several major events in recent years, so it would make a lot of sense for this fight to take place in that venue.
If the fight takes place in Mexico, fans will certainly show up as well. It’s worth remembering that Saul Alvarez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. It could even be seen as part of his “farewell tour,” returning to fight in Mexico in front of his supporters toward the end of his career.
In short, all of this remains speculation. Fans can dream big, imagine, for a moment, none other than Canelo Alvarez coming to fight Christian Mbilli at the Centre Vidéotron in Quebec City.
It’s unlikely, but it never hurt anyone to dream.
Photo: Facebook – Christian Mbilli
The date of the fight
The second key factor to consider is the date of the fight.
For the past few years, Alvarez has only fought twice a year, once in May and once in September.
These two dates hold very important meaning for Mexicans.
Now that Christian is champion, those dates also need to work for him. But we know that Mbilli wants this fight at all costs, so it would be surprising if he didn’t make himself available in May or September.
As of today, no announcement has been made regarding a fight in May.
The most likely scenario would therefore be for both sides to agree on September, which would be one year after both fighters’ last bout.
Photo: Bad Left Hook – Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford
It’s worth remembering that Christian Mbilli fought Lester Martinez on the same card that featured Canelo against Terence Crawford.
The two fighters would therefore enter the bout fresh and at the peak of their form to deliver this long-awaited show to boxing fans.
All that remains is to sign the contracts…
Finally, boxing fans now know that a boring Christian Mbilli fight simply does not exist. And the fight against Canelo is now being demanded by thousands of fans.
So despite the fact that we can still ask the question: will this fight eventually happen? We’ve reached a point where the real question is rather where it will take place, and when.
Photo: Christian Mbilli vs Lester Martinez
