The WBC wanted Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) to fight Hamzah Sheeraz for the belt but the fight couldn't be made, after which he was elevated from interim to full champion this week.

The week after Canelo was beaten by Terence Crawford in their September megafight, where Mbilli was held to a 10-round draw with Lester Martinez on the undercard, he was asked his thoughts by The Ring's Manouk Akopyan.

Having then described it as a 'privilege' to potentially face Canelo in future while acknowledging the timing was good on his end, he has since been quoted as wanting to match up against Canelo's former foe Jaime Munguia.

Mbilli has largely impressed against second-rate opposition, though lacks a standout win on his resume while bolstering his credibility at world level. As he enters the peak of his powers, the matchmaking strategy is clear.

Munguia (45-2, 35 KOs) has been called out by several fighters and there's no update on his return timeline, having recently rejected an offer by the IBF to fight for its vacant title against Osleys Iglesias.

Alvarez, who underwent successful elbow surgery after his decision defeat by Crawford, is set to return on September 12 in Riyadh as part of a Mexico Against The World card, Turki Alalshikh announced earlier this month.

It means a year-long layoff for one of the sport's biggest stars and while Mbilli isn't alone in wanting the chance to face him -- Sheeraz and Jermall Charlo among others -- he won't wait to make a first title defense.

Armed with more leverage than ever before, the newly-minted full champion remains optimistic they'll snare a big name next.

"Right now, we want more famous and bigger names. Caleb Plant, Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga, that type of fighter is needed to promote myself. In boxing, we never know but I hope we can get bigger names [to face me], I want it soon," Mbilli told The Ring when asked to clarify his comments during a virtual media scrum Thursday.

Mbilli accepted that while the former undisputed king won't feature in his first title defense, he remains hopeful they could still do battle sometime down the line in future.