The suitcase is almost ready. I’m double-checking my documents, my work gear, and my plane tickets. In just a few hours, I’ll be heading to Las Vegas.
Accompanied by Shawn Collinson, that 6’6” guy covered in colorful tattoos, we’re going to meet up with Christian, Marc, and Luc-Vincent. For Shawn, there’s never really a comfortable position on a plane, but at least the flight won’t be too long. This week promises to be unforgettable. A week where boxing will take center stage, but where the human side, as always, will remain at the heart of my reflections.
I’ve decided to share this adventure with you through a series of five articles I’ll simply call Travel Journal. Each text will be a stopover, a moment captured on the fly, on the road to a historic event: the clash between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium — but above all, the Christian Mbilli experience!
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Samuel Décarie-Drolet, Jessy Ross Thompson, Christian Mbilli and Shawn Collison
And to start this journey, I couldn’t not tell you about a boxer I’ve known for nearly ten years, who will be in the spotlight this week — and also under my close observation: Christian Mbilli.
Christian Mbilli: From Cameroon to Las Vegas, the Story of an Exceptional Boxer
It was back in 2015 when Marc Ramsay asked me, “Do you know Christian Mbilli?” Of course, Marc had already been following him for some time. He had seen several of his remarkable performances on the amateur scene. His explosive style, his passion, and his determination were turning heads. But for Marc, one question remained: beyond the boxer, would the person convince him to invest in a long-term relationship?
At that time, Christian already had impressive results under his belt. This is something Marc taught me — he passed on the habit of carefully watching major amateur competitions to spot tomorrow’s talents who consistently perform.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Luc, Vincent Ouellet, Marc Ramsay, Christian and Samuel Décarie-Drolet
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Christian represented France, which had a strong team! He lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual gold medalist. It was a heartbreak for Christian — but a blessing for us. Just imagine for a moment what would’ve happened if Christian had defeated the Cuban. Every powerful promoter would have rushed to sign him, and he never would have landed at YUL (Montreal-Trudeau Airport) to settle here. It was a crushing defeat for Christian — just one win away from an Olympic medal. That’s when Marc made a big move. He invited Christian and John Dovi, then the coach of the French national team, to Montreal to see firsthand how his team operates. They hit it off immediately. Christian came across as calm, thoughtful, and, above all, incredibly hard-working. We quickly realized these were just the tip of the iceberg: behind the boxer was a golden-hearted human being, with strong values and iron discipline.
Christian began his professional career in 2017. Since then, his journey has been a demonstration of perseverance and consistency. Today, he’s about to take a historic step forward: he’ll be featured on the undercard of the long-awaited fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford, held at the massive Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This stadium can hold over 65,000 spectators, and the fight will be broadcast live on Netflix, reaching tens of millions of viewers around the world.
Photo: Christian Mbilli, Antonin Décarie and Samuel Décarie-Drolet
In just under ten years, Christian Mbilli has gone from arriving in Canada and braving winter storms to stepping onto the global stage, becoming a major figure in modern boxing. His story is one of a dream pursued relentlessly, fueled by hard work, discipline, and strong human values.
Christian has come a long way… and he’s just getting started.
