Christian Mbilli and Lester Martinez Battle to a Draw in Las Vegas

By William Dumoulin

After an explosive win over Maciej Sulecki last June, Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) stepped into the biggest opportunity of his career: defending his WBC interim super middleweight title on the undercard of the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. Standing across from him was the hard-hitting Lester Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs).

In this 10-round clash, both fighters stuck to their trademark styles—aggressive and relentless in combinations. Mbilli found success when Martinez was trapped against the ropes, while the Guatemalan proved more effective at mid- and long-range. Mbilli’s left hook landed consistently throughout the contest, though it wasn’t enough to close the show inside the distance.

After ten grueling rounds, the judges delivered a split decision: 97-93 Martinez, 96-94 Mbilli, and 95-95. The fight was declared a draw, allowing Mbilli to retain his WBC interim title.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen whether the two will run it back. Given the physical toll and damage sustained on both sides, a rematch—this time over 12 rounds instead of 10—would be highly compelling