Is Canelo Alvarez On The Decline? Rival Shares Interesting Perspective

Canelo Alvarez will return to action for the first time on Oct. 31, after losing his super-middleweight crown to Terence Crawford. His challenger, however, doesn't see a threat; Christian Mbilli sees a legend on a downward slide from the heights of his legacy. 

Why Canelo Alvarez May Be Past His Prime

Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title will kick off on Oct. 31 at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Emerging French-Canadian powerhouse Christian Mbilli believes the boxing veteran has lost an edge, with Canelo remaining a shell of his former self.

Speaking with DAZN Boxing ahead of the clash, 'Solide' explained why the opportunity to beat the 36-year-old has arrived at the perfect time. 

"Because for me it's like a comeback for him. I am at the top of my career, and his career is going down for me. I think it's the best time for me to beat him," Mbilli reminded. 

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Indeed, Alvarez (63-3-2) has been inside the boxing circuit for over two decades and has undoubtedly lost some of his trademark precision. His last ring outing came over a year ago, resulting in a unanimous decision loss against Terence Crawford. Crawford kept the Mexican constantly in hot water with his speed, accuracy, and movement.

While four of his last five fights ended positively, Mbilli has pointed out exactly where Alvarez came up short against 'Bud.'

Christian Mbilli Breaks Down Brutal Flaws in Alvarez's Game

During the same interview, the French boxer picked apart Alvarez's last WBC super-middleweight title defense against 'Bud' Crawford. Mbilli found crucial gaps in the Mexican's performance.

"In his last fight, I saw that he lost his speed, his power, and coordination, and for me, I think we are seeing the last of Canelo," Mbilli explained.

Alvarez's fight against Crawford spanned all 12 rounds. And while the former succeeded in imposing himself in the early rounds, the clash soon began taking a completely different turn. Bud began landing clean left hands and combos while Alvarez was left without much of an answer. Outstriking the Mexican 115-99, per CompuBox statistics.

In stark contrast, Mbilli has had a more impressive recent run, picking up KO/TKO victories against Rohan Murdock, Mark Heffron, and Maciej Sulecki. However, his latest fight ended in a split draw after 12 brutal rounds of high-volume boxing. 

After Crawford vacated the super-middleweight belt earlier this year, the interim champion was elevated to full WBC champion status. Now, with his first title defense against Canelo Alvarez, Mbilli is looking to cement his name among boxing's elite.