Mbilli Vows to Come Back Stronger After First Career Defeat to Canelo

Christian Mbilli has spoken for the first time since suffering the first defeat of his professional career, vowing to come back stronger after losing his WBC super-middleweight title to Canelo Alvarez in Riyadh on Saturday. The French-Cameroonian pressure fighter, who had been upgraded from interim to full champion last year, was beaten by unanimous decision, 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112, as the Mexican star controlled the contest after a 13-month layoff. A day later, Mbilli took to Instagram to thank his fans and confirm his motivation remains intact, writing that the night did not go the way he wanted, that he is taking it as a lesson, heading back to the gym, and will come back stronger. The defeat leaves Mbilli at 29-1-1, but the division still offers plenty of routes back: three other major belts remain to pursue, with IBF champion Osleys Iglesias a possible threat and the vacant WBO title contested between Jacob Bank and Janibek Alimkhanuly. Canelo, meanwhile, is planning a return next March for what would be his 70th professional bout.