A trainer pushes back on the “domination” story
Christian Mbilli lost his WBC super middleweight belt on Saturday night in Riyadh, beaten on points by Canelo Alvarez on a unanimous decision. On Sunday one of his trainers, the Canadian Samuel Décarie, spoke on RMC and refused to let the night be written as a mismatch.
Décarie admitted the disappointment but ruled out excuses. He said Mbilli had shown he belongs among the elite and that beating Canelo on the judges’ cards is a very hard job. He rejected the idea that Alvarez dominated from bell to bell. In his count, Mbilli won at least four rounds, and several others were close. He also claimed that Mexican fans at the arena told the team a draw was the minimum the Frenchman deserved.
Mbilli arrived unbeaten with 29 wins. Alvarez now stands at 64 wins, 39 by knockout, with three defeats and two draws, so the experience gap showed up in how he managed the middle rounds, picking his moments with patience while the challenger kept pressing.
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What the corner would change, and what comes next
Décarie did not hide a tactical regret. He said the team could have opened the machine up more at certain points, or kept boxing the way Mbilli did over the first four rounds. In his reading, the Frenchman controlled the rhythm for stretches and the fight was closer than some judges’ scores.
The plan now is rest. Décarie said Mbilli will take a few weeks of well-earned holiday because his body is exhausted. After that the camp will weigh its options. He insisted the loss has not cost the fighter any value and that the team is not worried about the future.
That last point will be tested in the market. A narrow defeat to Canelo in Riyadh can keep a name relevant at 168 pounds, but the next opponent will show how much weight the corner’s version of events carries.
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