(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Christian Mbilli to Defend WBC Interim Super-Middleweight Title Against Lester Martinez on September 13
Christian Mbilli will defend his WBC interim super-middleweight title against rising contender Lester Martinez on September 13. The fight is part of the undercard for the highly anticipated Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford superfight, set to take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and broadcast live on Netflix.
Mbilli expressed his excitement about the opportunity, saying, “I’m honored that His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh chose me for the Canelo vs. Crawford card. I plan to show that I’m the rightful challenger for the winner of that bout by staying true to my style and putting on a spectacular fight. This victory will boost my global status and show the world who Christian ‘Solide’ Mbilli really is.”
The unbeaten 29-year-old from Quebec, Canada, holds a 29-0 record with 24 knockouts. His notable wins include victories over Carlos Góngora, Rohan Murdock, and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. In June, Mbilli secured the interim title with a first-round knockout of Maciej Sulecki and will make his first defense against Martinez next month.
Coach Marc Ramsay praised both fighters, stating, “Many see Lester Martinez as one of the most dangerous rising prospects in the world right now. But Christian doesn’t back down from anyone—not Canelo, not Martinez—no one.”
Lester Martinez, 19-0 with 16 knockouts, turned professional in 2019. He made headlines by stopping former champion Ricardo Mayorga early in his career. More recently, Martinez dominated Carlos Góngora over ten rounds and stopped unbeaten American Joeshon James in four rounds. Currently ranked No. 3 by the WBC and ranked in the top 15 by other major boxing organizations, Martinez faces his toughest test yet in this upcoming showdown.
The September 13 event promises high drama, with Mbilli and Martinez both eager to make a statement on one of boxing’s biggest stages.
