Terence Crawford reacts to Canelo’s victory over Mbilli to become world champion again

Terence Crawford has congratulated Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on regaining one of his old super-middleweight world titles.

Crawford beat Canelo in September 2025, winning all four belts at 168lbs before announcing his retirement from the sport as an undefeated, five-division world champion.

Following a year off that included elbow surgery, Canelo returned tonight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to face Christian Mbilli, who was upgraded from interim to full champion when Crawford hung up the gloves.

Alvarez gradually took control of the fight, showing excellent defence and countering to keep Mbilli at bay. He won a unanimous decision to regain the green and gold belt.

Though Canelo has called for Crawford to end his retirement for a rematch, the pair remain respectful, and the American was quick to congratulate his old rival on social media.

From the source 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 @Canelo congrats!!!

While a return fight against the Mexican icon would be lucrative for ‘Bud’, he has remained consistent that he has achieved all he wanted to from the sport. A return remains unlikely.

That leaves Canelo searching for big fights in a division where not many are on offer. A new undisputed run would be blocked by avoiding a fight with former opponent-turned-stablemate Jaime Munguia, and bouts against the likes of IBF champion Osleys Oglesias or the winner of Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Bank for the vacant WBO belt are risky and not major.

Hamzah Sheeraz, though he vacated that WBO belt, remains an option due to his ties with Riyadh Season, where Canelo has one more contracted fight.

The 36-year-old superstar has also called for a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, but would likely need to move up to light-heavyweight again for it to happen.