Christian Mbilli sees decline in Canelo Alvarez ahead of September title fight

Christian Mbilli believes Canelo Alvarez is slowing down and that September's WBC middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight title fight comes at the right time to exploit it.

The unbeaten champion told Ring Magazine he was caught off guard when Alvarez's camp requested the matchup but signed quickly once negotiations wrapped. Mbilli defends his belt against the four-division titlist on September 12.

Mbilli on timing and Canelo's decline

"He started [boxing professionally at] 15 years old, he have a lot of fights now," Mbilli said, per Bad Left Hook. "I think his performance is going down but he's still very dangerous. I think it's a perfect timing for me to beat him."

Mbilli, known for volume punching and constant pressure, plans to overwhelm Alvarez from the opening bell. He dismissed any notion of changing his approach for the veteran Mexican, saying he will "throw punch the first second and last second of the fight."

"I will not chance anything," he added. "I hope he will be ready because I think it will be amazing fight for him. I think he will regret to be in the ring."

The bout marks Alvarez's first defense since moving back down to 168 pounds earlier this year. Mbilli has stopped eight of his last nine opponents.

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• Bad Left Hook — ‘His performance is going down’: Christian Mbilli sees decline in Canelo Alvarez