Christian Mbilli’s pursuit of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been relentless. This Saturday night the unbeaten knockout artist hopes to edge closer to that dream.
Heading up the undercard of the Netflix event that pits Alvarez against Terence Crawford, Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) finds himself in his sternest assignment yet — an all-action clash with fellow undefeated 168-pounder, Lester Martinez (19-0, 16 KOs).
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Born in Cameroon, the Montreal-based Mbilli has become the poster boy for Eye of the Tiger Promotions. His blend of ruthless knockout power and icy composure has elevated him from fringe prospect to a genuine threat in a competitive super middleweight landscape.
Last time out, Mbilli ripped through seasoned contender Maciej Sulecki (33-4, 13 KOs) inside a single round. That fight saw him combine a smart body attack with a crisp uppercut to the open chin of the Polish fighter, announcing himself as the WBC interim champion in devastating fashion.
The performance left many convinced Mbilli had finished his apprenticeship. On Saturday, he’ll look to underline that status under boxing’s brightest lights in Las Vegas.
But Martinez is no soft touch. The Guatemalan, known as a trusted sparring partner of Crawford, brings fire of his own and the confidence of an unbeaten record.
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It’s a meeting where one fighter’s perfect record will evaporate, and Mbilli knows this could be the springboard that propels him from contender to Alvarez’s mandatory shadow.
“I think I’m born to this, to be honest,” Mbilli told Uncrowned. “Of course, this event is bigger than what I’ve done so far, but I think a bigger crowd could make me even better. Plus, a lot of people will be there for Canelo and Crawford, so it motivates me even more to steal the show … and some of their fans.
“There’s always pressure, but it’s not at all about this, because I’m the one bringing the war. I’m just blessed to be that kind of fighter where being spectacular is part of my style. I think that’s also why [Turki Alalshikh] wanted me on this show, to make sure everybody gets to see some great action.
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“It’s always been my goal to fight under the brightest lights. I see more and more support recently, with fans, the media, and for me it’s a privilege, and it motivates me even more, because I know I’ve got all these people rooting for me, so I can’t let them down.”
Mbilli has relied on a sturdy chin throughout his career, but hasn’t yet come across a puncher with the record that Martinez possesses. It’s a litmus test for the 30-year-old at a crucial moment in his career, another box to check before approaching the final rung on the ladder.
But does the pair of unbeaten records add to Saturday’s spectacle? Or is it more of an indication of a careful path plotted in a division full of banana skins?
“On paper, of course, [owning unbeaten records] looks better,” Mbilli said. “But I look more at his style and I’m happy to face a guy that will come to fight too, and that will not come to dance around. So if Martinez stays true to everything he’s done so far, it surely won’t be a ‘Tom and Jerry fight’ as [Alalshikh] would call it.
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“Every fighter has their weaknesses, and Martinez is no different. I’m thankful to my coaching team — Marc Ramsay, Samuel Décarie, Luc-Vincent Ouellet and Shawn Collinson — because so far, they have always been really to find the weaknesses in the game of all my opponents.
“I could go on and on about this because my last fight was a good example of this. I was facing a top-10 guy from Poland [Maciej Sulecki], and we saw that he was leaning toward [you] after throwing his punches. So we came in knowing the uppercut would be a key punch, and next thing you know I knocked him out with the first uppercut I landed in the first round.”
Opponents Christian Mbilli and Lester Martinez face off during the Canelo vs. Crawford undercard press conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
Despite a majority of Martinez’s stoppage wins coming in the first half of his fights, the Guatemalan has shown sticking power when forced, on occasion, to go the distance. It’s something that Martinez’s trainer, Brian “BoMac” MacIntyre, believes could be the difference this weekend in the scheduled 10-rounder.
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“I don’t focus on that too much,” Mbilli countered. “That being said, we will see how he reacts when it gets tough. People always talk about my power, but I think my biggest strength is my stamina, cardio, or conditioning. So I can’t speak for him, but I can assure you I’ll be good to go too if the fight goes longer.”
A future meeting with the winner of Saturday’s main event — either “Canelo” or Crawford — is the obvious carrot dangling above the ring for both Mbilli and Martinez. But unlike Martinez, Mbilli has been in these conversations for some time now. For him, now is the time to put his foot on the gas in pursuit of the division’s ruler.
“I’ve already been calling out for Canelo and all the big names for the last few years now. I don’t want to sound arrogant about it, or make it look like I want a payday, because I just want to prove that I’m the best,” he said. “And right now, Canelo is the best, so that’s why. That being said, I think a great win, on his card, and in front of millions of viewers on Netflix, will help my case. So yes, I was ready yesterday, today or tomorrow if Canelo or Crawford want to dance.
“I think Canelo has to be the favorite in Saturday’s fight, because of the weight and power,” he added. “And I see people talking about how much Crawford has put on weight, how Canelo isn’t even that much bigger than him, but it’s also that Canelo is used to the weight.
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“Could Crawford win? Of course, he’s a good fighter and that’s boxing. But now he’s basically jumping three weight classes, and I do think there’s weight classes for a reason. He’s skilled, and it could be a close fight, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another version of Canelo vs. Jermell Charlo.”
Mbilli is reluctant to be sucked into Las Vegas’ famous razzmatazz. He is staying with his training team in a secluded house, a 40-minute drive away from the bright lights and the piercing cha-chings of slot machines. His jackpot awaits in the ring, and can only be won with his two fighting fists.
Perhaps, on his next visit to Vegas, things will look a little different. But for now, the man who was dubbed as the “French Mike Tyson” back in 2017 is only focussed on Saturday’s outcome.
“I predict I’m going to win via spectacular fashion,” he said. “And I think doing so will be the best way to thank everyone. I’m going to steal the show and show how great Christian Mbilli is.”
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