The veteran trainer says Christian Mbilli’s relentless pressure could make October the toughest fight of Canelo Alvarez’s late career and suggests financial guarantees influenced the matchup
Brian “BoMac” McIntyre believes Christian Mbilli is exactly the kind of opponent Canelo Alvarez would prefer to avoid at this stage of his career. The trainer says Mbilli’s pressure style will ask difficult questions of Alvarez and suggested guaranteed money played a role in the fight being made.
McIntyre, who trained Lester Martinez for his draw against Christian Mbilli last September, says Canelo is facing an opponent who won’t be intimidated by his reputation or power when they meet for Mbilli’s WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh in October. The official date for the fight still hasn’t been confirmed.
“It’s no walk in the park for Canelo, I promise you that. Mbilli is a fighting motherf*****, and he fights all the way to the end,” said BoMac McIntyre to Fighthype.
Having prepared Lester to face Mbilli, McIntyre says he has firsthand knowledge of the relentless pressure and physicality the unbeaten French-based champion brings.
“Will his skills pull through or will Canelo’s skills pull through? That must be seen. If [Canelo wins], it’s probably going to take a toll on him,” said BoMac.
McIntyre also questioned whether Canelo would have pursued the fight voluntarily at this stage of his career.
“That motherf**ker Mbilli will fight you toe-to-toe. Does Canelo want that at this age? Probably not,” said BoMac.
“Is he getting made to [take] fights like that with that guaranteed money? Probably so.”
The matchup will be Canelo’s first appearance since losing a unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in September 2025, a defeat that cost him the undisputed super middleweight championship. Mbilli was later elevated from interim to full WBC champion after Crawford retired and vacated the title.
McIntyre has another reason to watch the fight closely. Martinez is scheduled to defend his interim WBC title against Luka Plantić on August 29, and BoMac hopes a victory will position his fighter for a shot at the winner of Canelo-Mbilli.
