The delay changes the timetable for Canelo’s return after his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025. That defeat cost Canelo his undisputed status at 168 pounds and left him trying to work his way back into the championship picture.

Mbilli is now the WBC super middleweight champion after being elevated from interim titleholder. The unbeaten contender had been waiting for his full title opportunity, and the Canelo fight gives him the biggest platform of his career.

For Canelo, the matchup carries pressure beyond simply getting back in the win column. He will be trying to regain the WBC belt and avoid a second straight defeat, something that would further damage his standing near the top of the sport.

The postponement means both fighters will have extra time before one of the most important super middleweight fights of the year. Canelo remains the larger name, but Mbilli enters as the champion and the younger, unbeaten fighter with a chance to reshape the division. The new date also keeps the matchup positioned as a major late-year event at 168 pounds for now.