Undefeated super-middleweight contender Christian Mbilli is nearing a world title opportunity, but he must first overcome a challenging opponent in Maciej Sulecki. Their fight is scheduled for June 27 in Quebec City and represents a crucial test for the Montreal-based boxer.
Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the 28-year-old Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) relocated to France at age 11. He represented France at the 2016 Rio Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals before being defeated by eventual gold medalist Arlen López.
The year after the Olympics, Mbilli moved to Canada and began training with Marc Ramsay, known for working with Artur Beterbiev. Since then, Mbilli, nicknamed `Solide`, has built a significant following in Canada, remaining unbeaten and steadily rising through the ranks.
Now at a critical juncture in his career, the 30-year-old Mbilli sees this year as pivotal. He is aiming for a standout performance that will capture the attention of boxing fans worldwide and elevate his profile.
Mbilli was previously slated to face fellow undefeated French contender Kevin Lele Sadjo, but that anticipated bout was called off, reportedly due to financial complications.
Following the cancellation, the WBC mandated Mbilli fight the highly-regarded Diego Pacheco for the organization`s vacant interim super-middleweight title. This fight was intended to establish the winner as a clear mandatory challenger for a full world title.
However, Pacheco recently withdrew from the planned interim title fight against Mbilli. Speaking about this development, Mbilli expressed his frustration, stating, “I am a little bit frustrated, but you know, it is boxing. In boxing it is very difficult to have big fights and the fights that you want. But I don’t care, I have a good team who is working very hard for me. My team have made this fight happen with Sulecki for the WBC Interim and I am happy to have this fight on June 27.”
Stepping in to face Mbilli is Maciej Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs). The Polish fighter will aim to inflict the first loss of Mbilli`s career and position himself for another shot at a world title. Sulecki previously challenged for a world title in June 2019, losing a points decision to WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade.
Sulecki`s recent form in North America includes a stoppage loss in August 2024. Mbilli, however, stated he feels no pressure to surpass that performance, even as he asserts that he is the most skilled opponent Sulecki has faced to date.
Mbilli elaborated on his mindset for the upcoming bout: “I don’t have any pressure in this fight. The only pressure that I have is to make a good fight, to bring a big show for boxing fans. Every fight right now is very important, and this fighter has a good style. He is a very good fighter, and I think that he is going to help me push myself and become a better boxer. For me, I think that I am the best boxer that he has fought. He has fought Danny Jacobs, Demetrius Andrade and Pacheco but I think that I am the best. I am going to show this on June 27.”
While confident of securing a decisive victory, Mbilli acknowledges the threats Sulecki poses and emphasized his goal is to deliver an entertaining performance alongside the win.
“He is very risky, he is very tough, and he puts a lot of pressure on,” Mbilli stated. “He can be sneaky too; I think that I have to be very careful because he can box too and he can put pressure on. I don’t know the strategy that he is going to bring to the ring, but I think that I have to be very careful with this fight. I want to give a boxing show to the fans; I want to give them a very big show and a good fight. I don’t want my fight to be like the last fight of Canelo (against William Scull), I want to show the fans that boxing is spectacular, it is not a dance.”
A win against Sulecki would not only secure the WBC Interim title for Mbilli but also position him as the mandatory challenger for the winner of the undisputed super-middleweight clash between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, scheduled for September.
If Canelo emerges victorious, Mbilli reaffirmed that his primary ambition is to become a world champion and promised a `spectacular` showing if facing Canelo is required to achieve that goal. He offered his prediction for the September fight: “I think that Canelo will win this fight. Canelo is too big, and I don’t know how Crawford is right now, but I think that it is too much for Crawford to go up two divisions. Right now, the number one thing is that I want to be a world champion and number two is that I want to be the best in the division. If Canelo gives me my chance, then I would be very happy to beat him. If he leaves the WBC then that is good, but right now I want to be number one and I also want Canelo too.”
Mbilli concluded by teasing his potential approach to a fight with Alvarez: “I am going to keep quiet about my strategy to beat Canelo but of course it would be more spectacular than his last fight with Scull!”
