BUZZ Canelo beats Mbilli to regain WBC title; Delgado-Biyarslanov IBF talks ordered

Canelo Alvarez needed 13 months away, elbow surgery and 12 controlled rounds to become a champion again. He took the WBC super middleweight belt from Christian Mbilli in Riyadh and handed the Frenchman the first defeat of his professional career.

Mbilli had been lifted from interim to full champion after Terence Crawford retired, and he took Alvarez as the most lucrative first defense on offer. Alvarez, 36, answered his pressure with counters and body work and took firmer control in the second half. The scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 show a wider gap than the closest card suggests, and a point taken from Mbilli in round eight for a punch to the back of the head added to the argument. Mbilli's promoter Camille Estephan told Sky Sports it seemed the referee was influenced, though he also called Alvarez's performance great. Mbilli said on Instagram that he will come back stronger.

The reaction has been split. David Benavidez told Fight Hub TV that Alvarez did not empty the tank and should have hunted a knockout, yet still believes no one at 168 beats him. Lester Martinez, the WBC interim champion, said fighting Alvarez is his dream.

What comes next is open. Alvarez named no opponent and plans a short break. His trainer Eddy Reynoso said he would like Crawford, but the team must rest first. Boxing News reports Alvarez has one fight left on his Riyadh Season contract, with a return talked about for spring. Crawford sent congratulations and praise but did not entertain a rematch. Jake Paul wrote that Alvarez "did take a lot of punches though" and that the two will dance; Paul's own return, on Christmas Eve in Dubai, still has no confirmed opponent in these reports.

On the undercard, the vacant IBF junior welterweight fight never happened because Delgado did not travel. His trainer Robert Garcia cited missile alerts and an unrealistic travel schedule. Biyarslanov complained publicly that he waited a week for an explanation. The IBF has now ordered both men back to negotiate.

Watch for the Nov. 23 IBF deadline and for Alvarez's team meeting in the coming weeks.