Super middleweight after Crawford: champions, belts and what comes next
Terence Crawford beat Canelo Álvarez in September 2025, took the undisputed super middleweight crown and then retired. The belts scattered. Canelo vs Mbilli on October 31 is the first big fight at 168 pounds since the dust settled, and the result will shape the division's 2027.
How the belts were split
Crawford beat Canelo by unanimous decision on September 13, 2025 and became undisputed champion. He then announced his retirement. The WBC stripped him for failing to honor a payment agreement with the organization, and in January 2026 it elevated Christian Mbilli from interim to full champion. The other belts were vacated or passed on in the following months.
Who holds what at 168 pounds
Based on published champion lists in late September and early October:
| Organization | Champion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WBC | Christian Mbilli | Elevated from interim in January 2026. Lester Martínez is listed as interim champion. |
| WBA | Jaime Munguía | Won the title in May 2026 by decision over Armando Reséndiz, who had been elevated to champion on January 1. |
| IBF | Osleys Iglesias | Picked up one of Crawford's former belts this year. |
| WBO | Vacant | Hamzah Sheeraz held it this year and reportedly vacated it in September after declining to face a mandatory challenger. |
Lists from different sources can disagree on the exact status of interim and vacant titles, so confirm the latest on each organization's website. The Ring, in its own rankings, has Canelo at No. 1 at 168 pounds and Mbilli at No. 3.
Why Canelo vs Mbilli matters
It is not an undisputed fight, and the title picture is messy. But it puts the division's biggest name against an unbeaten champion ranked No. 3 by The Ring. A Canelo win puts him back among the champions. A Mbilli win makes him the division's leading figure.
If Canelo wins
He becomes WBC champion again, and options open up:
- A rematch with Munguía for the WBA belt. Canelo beat Munguía by unanimous decision in May 2024 (117-110, 116-111, 115-112). Munguía has since won the WBA title himself.
- A unification against Osleys Iglesias for the IBF title. It would be a younger, unbeaten opponent.
- The WBC interim champion. Organizations often push their champion to face the interim titleholder, which would put Lester Martínez in line.
- A fight for the vacant WBO belt. Whoever the WBO matches up in the coming months could face the winner.
Whether Canelo chases a unification in 2027 is an open question, and nothing has been announced.
If Mbilli wins
He would have beaten the division's biggest name in his first defense as full champion. His options:
- Fight Lester Martínez again. They drew in September 2025, and the WBC lists Martínez as its interim champion.
- A unification with Munguía or Iglesias. A winning Mbilli would be a strong draw for either.
- A Canelo rematch. If the fight is close or controversial, a second fight would make commercial sense.
What the WBC could require
The WBC has an interim champion in Martínez. Under normal practice, the full champion is expected to face the interim titleholder or the organization may take other steps. We do not know yet what, if anything, the WBC has decided for the winner on October 31, and we will not guess. Check back after the fight.
The bigger picture
Super middleweight went from a one-man era (Canelo as undisputed champion) to a fragmented one in about a year. Crawford's single reign and retirement left four belts and no obvious center. The winner on October 31 has the best claim to being the new focal point.
Related reading
- Canelo vs Mbilli: date, analysis and prediction
- Who is Christian Mbilli?
- Canelo after Crawford
- Can Mbilli be the first man to stop Canelo?
FAQ
Who is the WBC super middleweight champion? Christian Mbilli. Lester Martínez is listed as the WBC interim champion.
Who holds the other super middleweight belts? Jaime Munguía has the WBA title and Osleys Iglesias the IBF title. The WBO title is listed as vacant.
Did Crawford vacate his belts? He announced his retirement after beating Canelo. The WBC stripped him for failing to honor a payment agreement, and other belts were vacated afterward.
Who could Canelo fight next? It depends on the result. Options include Munguía, Iglesias and the WBC interim champion.