Christian Mbilli Crowned Full WBC Super Middleweight Champion Following Crawford’s Retirement
As of January 28, 2026, Christian Mbilli has been officially recognized as the full World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight champion. This elevation follows the formal retirement of Terence Crawford and the subsequent stripping of the title he won against Canelo Alvarez due to a payment dispute with the WBC .
Crawford’s Vacancy and Mbilli’s Rise
Terence Crawford’s decision to retire created a vacancy in the super middleweight division.The WBC initially designated Mbilli as the interim champion, and with Crawford no longer competing, the organization has now upgraded Mbilli to the full championship title. The announcement was made during the WBC’s weekly “Martes de Café” press conference in Mexico City.
Mbilli’s Recent Performance and Future Outlook
Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) last fought in September, achieving a split draw against Lester Martinez on the undercard of the Canelo-Crawford bout. The WBC had initially considered a fight between Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz for the vacant title, but ultimately cancelled those plans. Sheeraz is now expected to compete against Diego Pacheco for the vacant WBO title.
A rematch between Mbilli and Lester Martinez is widely anticipated as Mbilli’s first title defense. Though, details regarding the date and location of the fight have not yet been confirmed.
Christian Mbilli was present at martes de Café ☕🥊, where he shared his thoughts on becoming a world champion, his future plans, and winning the Fight of the Year 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/eHSuFnDbkT
– World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) January 27, 2026
Key Takeaways
- terence Crawford’s Retirement: The catalyst for the title change was Crawford’s retirement from professional boxing.
- Mbilli’s Promotion: christian mbilli moves from interim champion to full WBC super middleweight champion.
- Rematch Potential: A rematch between Mbilli and lester Martinez is highly likely to be Mbilli’s first title defense.
- Sheeraz’s New Path: Hamzah Sheeraz will now compete for the vacant WBO title against Diego Pacheco.