Boxing: Christian Mbilli challenges Lester Martinez, before the world title against Canelo Alvarez?
Still undefeated, the French boxer will face Lester Martinez in Las Vegas this Saturday. A crucial challenge to get closer to a world title shot against Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, who will face Terence Crawford the same evening.
By Le Parisien with AFPFrench boxer Christian Mbilli will challenge Guatemalan Lester Martinez on Saturday, awaiting a chance at the world title, which he hopes will come against star Canelo Alvarez, who will face American Terence Crawford at the same meeting in Las Vegas.
Mbilli, 30 years old and still undefeated (29 wins including 24 by the limit), is making his way to a world title with a host of spectacular knockouts since turning professional in 2017.
The Frenchman of Cameroonian origin, who also holds a passport from Canada where he resides, is defending his interim WBC belt, won at the end of June, on Saturday against Lester Martinez, also undefeated. He knocked out Polish champion Maciej Sulecki with a devastating uppercut in the first round.
Christian Mbilli dreams bigger than an interim title, but in his super-middleweight division, he's running into the intrigue surrounding undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez. The Mexican star, who made his mark against other greats of the noble art (Mayweather Jr., Golovkin), is looking at 35 for more lucrative and less risky fights than the one against the Frenchman.
After regaining the belt in a soporific duel against Cuban William Scull in May, Alvarez returns with a gala match against undefeated American Terence Crawford (41 wins, 31 of which were by the limit). The former lightweight, super-lightweight, and welterweight star, who turns 38 at the end of the month, is taking the risk of moving up two weight classes from his last fight in super-welterweight to challenge Canelo.
The clash, scheduled for Allegiant Stadium and broadcast on Netflix starting at 3 a.m. Sunday (Paris time), is organized by the new essential boxing promoter, the Saudi Turki Alalshikh, associated with the UFC of Dana White, close to Donald Trump, who is exploring MMA outside the cage.
Alalshikh's invitation to Mbilli for a fight on Canelo's card is a good sign for the Frenchman, who has the opportunity to shine on a very big night and thus establish himself as the Mexican's natural challenger. "I'm happy to be here and I want to show the world that I deserve to be Canelo or Crawford's next opponent," the Frenchman said at a press conference.
Le Parisien
