Cameroonian-French interim WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli retained his title after a draw against Léster Martínez of Guatemala.
The thrilling, hard-fought bout was part of the undercard for the Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford fight, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mbilli entered the ring as a heavy favourite to keep his interim title, but Martínez displayed his strong Olympic experience and excellent preparation from his time as a sparring partner in Crawford’s camp, delivering a performance deserving of applause.
Martínez did not shy away from Mbilli’s pressure; he went toe-to-toe, demonstrated remarkable courage, and engaged in fierce exchanges that excited the fans filling the Allegiant.
After 10 grueling and exhilarating rounds, judge Chris Migliore scored the bout 96-94 in favour of Mbilli, while Patricia Morse Jarman scored it 97-93 for Martínez. Glenn Feldman’s score of 95-95 resulted in a draw, which may have been the most accurate scorecard of the night.
Crawford Defeats Canelo in a Great Figh
