On September 13, while everyone will be eagerly awaiting the clash between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford, another fight may just steal the show: Mbilli vs. Martinez.
Christian M’Billi, a true war machine, ranked as the best super middleweight in the world without a belt, will face Lester Martinez, undefeated, the pride of Guatemala, determined to take down the man they call “Solid,” whom no one has been able to stop so far.
Christian M’Billi (29-0, 24 KOs)
A boxer without borders—born in Cameroon, raised in France, settled in Quebec, and now living in Dubai. He turned pro in 2017 and is a relentless worker, an tireless warrior.
His style? Constant pressure, endless combinations, power that wears opponents down but can also destroy with a single shot. His punch volume is insane, backed by seemingly unlimited cardio.
No one is perfect… except Floyd Mayweather. M’Billi can get hit and makes some defensive mistakes as he charges forward—typical of aggressive fighters. If I had to imagine a strategy against him, I’d go with counter-punching and uppercuts. But so far, no one has managed to stop him.
Lester Martinez (19-0, 16 KOs)
From Petén, Guatemala, Martinez carries the hopes of a nation that has never had a world champion. A decorated amateur, he turned pro in 2019 and quickly stood out for his explosiveness.
Photo: Boxing Scene – Lester Martinez
His main weapon: raw power. Straight shots, hooks, uppercuts—every punch can turn the lights out. Looking at M’Billi’s record, I notice he has never faced an undefeated opponent. Fighters who have never tasted defeat guard that “zero” with their life.
Martinez doesn’t know how to lose—he will fight with all his heart and soul to win. Critics will say he’s never faced someone of M’Billi’s caliber, but he demolished Carlos Gongora. I’d even say he did a better job than our boxer in that fight.
Mbilli : le rouleau compresseur
M’Billi is not a fighter who waits. From the first bell, he charges in, cuts off the ring, and forces his opponent backward.
His strategy rests on three pillars:
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Volume – He throws non-stop combinations, sometimes 80 to 100 punches per round.
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Cardio – Even in round 10, he keeps the same pace.
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Psychological pressure – His opponents break down mentally as much as physically, unable to breathe.
Lester Martinez : The Opportunistic Puncher
Martinez has a devastating weapon: power that lasts through the rounds. He hits hard from start to finish. His best chance is to exploit the openings M’Billi leaves when he charges forward. The short left hook, the straight right, and especially the uppercut could punish the Quebec fighter’s aggression.
His challenge is twofold:
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Withstand the storm of punches without losing confidence.
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Land the right shot at the right time, before the pressure becomes unbearable.
Photo: Christian Mbilli
Two Possible Scenarios:
I see two possible outcomes for this high-stakes showdown:
Scenario 1: If M’Billi sets the pace, the fight could turn into a methodical demolition: accumulation of punches, Martinez slowing down, stoppage around rounds 6 to 8.
Scenario 2: If Martinez stays calm and lands early, he could flip the script with a perfectly placed shot. But to do that, he’ll have to survive the early storm—a monumental challenge.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to make a prediction…
Okay fine, here’s one:
This will be the fight of the year at 168 pounds.
In the Podcast:
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Marie-Pier Houle will be watching the September 13 card with her WBA belt on her shoulder. I predict a KO victory in the 9th round against Stephanie Pineiro Aquino.
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The undercard fight between Ivan Dychko and Jermaine Franklin is not for the faint-hearted. The 6’9” Ukrainian wants to restart his career after promotional issues. The American, who lost his father during training camp, is dedicating the fight to him. Expect fireworks.
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Finally, I don’t believe in the “bulked-up” version of Terence Crawford. I didn’t like his performance at 154 pounds against Israil Madrimov—slower, less powerful. There’s a reason weight classes exist. He’ll learn that on September 13.
Prediction: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez by wide decision on points.
