Mbilli Elevated to WBC Super Middleweight Champion

Christian Mbilli has been elevated to full WBC super middleweight champion, marking a significant shift in the 168-pound division following Terence Crawford's retirement last month. The World Boxing Council made the announcement during its weekly press conference on January 27, 2026, promoting the 30-year-old Cameroonian from interim titleholder to undisputed holder of the organization's belt at the weight class.

The elevation came after a series of stalled negotiations and administrative decisions. Crawford, who captured the undisputed super middleweight crown with a dominant victory over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September 2025, vacated all titles upon his retirement. That win, widely regarded as one of the most impressive in modern boxing history, ended Alvarez's second reign as undisputed champion and propelled Crawford to become the second fighter to claim undisputed honors in three divisions. With the titles now fragmented, the WBC had ordered Mbilli, the interim champion since June 2025, to face British contender Hamzah Sheeraz for the vacant belt. However, the two camps failed to reach an agreement, leading the organization to cancel the purse bid and directly upgrade...