For Christian Mbilli, facing Canelo Alvarez in the first defense of his WBC super middleweight title represents more than the biggest fight of his career when they clash in a DAZN Pay-Per-View/DAZN Ultimate main event September 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s an opportunity that could alter the course of the lives of him and his family.

“This fight will change my life,” Mbilli said on the most recent episode of the “Mr. Verzace Podcast,” hosted by The Ring CEO, Rick Reeno. “After this fight, it will change the lives of many of the generations of Mbilli.”

The 31-year-old Mbilli, of Yaounde, Cameroon, was elevated from interim to full champion in December after Terence Crawford was stripped of the title. He became the WBC interim champion thanks to a first-round stoppage of Maciej Sulecki on June 27.

The Quebec-based Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3-ranked super middleweight, fought to a split draw with Lester Martinez in a “Fight of the Year” contender in his last fight, on the undercard of Crawford’s unanimous-decision victory over Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The 35-year-old Alvarez hasn’t fought since losing his Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts to Crawford. The Guadalajara, Mexico, native, who is The Ring’s No. 1-ranked super middleweight, underwent surgery on his left elbow in October, which delayed his return.

“I think I’m a very dangerous fighter for him, but I have to be careful, too, because it’s Canelo,“ Mbilli said. “He’s not a small boxer, but I think I will make a statement this fight.”

The super middleweight division is as open as it has been since Alvarez’s run from 2020 to 2025, during which he went unbeaten in 12 fights and twice became the undisputed champion. A win for Alvarez would be one of his most impressive at super middleweight, given his age and the challenge that Mbilli presents.

If Mbilli were to hand Alvarez his second straight loss, though, it’d mark a changing of the guard in one of boxing’s best divisions.

“In September, it will be my time,“ Mbilli said. “In September, I will be the face of the super middleweight division.”