Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Sep 2025
Before the highly anticipated main event between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was set ablaze Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) by a super middleweight clash that delivered far beyond expectations. Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) of Montreal, Canada, and Lester Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs) of Guatemala, both undefeated knockout artists, lived up to their reputations in a ferocious 10-round super middleweight battle that concluded in a rare and captivating split draw.
From the moment the opening bell rang, the concept of a "feeling out" round was discarded. Mbilli and Martinez immediately engaged in a phone booth slugfest, trading heavy blows with relentless abandon. It was a testament to both fighters' iron wills and chins that neither touched the canvas despite the sheer volume and power of the punches exchanged. The early rounds were a blur of aggression, with both men giving as good as they got, each seemingly determined to prove who could withstand the pain and maintain their punishing pace.
As the fight entered the middle rounds, Mbilli, known for his relentless pressure, appeared to seize a slight advantage. His continued aggressiveness and higher punch connect rate highlighted with consistent digs to the body seemed to sway the momentum in his favor. He pressed forward, landing crisp combinations and asserting his presence in the center of the ring. However, Martinez, refusing to be broken, showcased his own resilience and heart. He weathered Mbilli's storm, digging deep and mounting a powerful comeback in the final three rounds, igniting the crowd with his late surge.
What made this fight truly extraordinary was the sheer grit displayed by both combatants. The amount of punishment absorbed by each fighter would have put most contenders down, yet Mbilli and Martinez stood firm, neither backing down nor stopping their onslaught until the final bell. The sustained intensity and unwavering commitment to offense from both sides made for a compelling spectacle that had fans on their feet.
When the scorecards were finally read, the judges' diverse opinions reflected the incredibly close and hard-fought nature of the bout: 97-93 for Martinez, 96-94 for Mbilli, and a 95-95 draw. The announcement of a split draw was met with a mixed reaction, but ultimately, it felt like a fitting conclusion to a contest where neither fighter truly deserved to lose.
Mbilli vs. Martinez was more than just an undercard attraction; it was a testament to the warrior spirit of boxing, a visceral display of courage, skill, and unyielding determination. Both fighters left everything in the ring, enhancing their reputations and leaving fans clamoring for a potential rematch. This was truly a battle of titans that set the perfect stage for the evening's main event.
Earlier fight on the undercard have the following results:
10 rounds Super Featherweight
Mohammed Alakel (5-0-0, 1KOs) vs Travis Crawford (7-4-0, 2KOs), Corpus Christi, Texas
In the opening fight live on Netflix, Saudi Arabian prospect dominated Mohamed Alakel (6-0-0, 1KOs) used his superior speed and reach advantage to dominate Travis Crawford (7-5-0, 2KOs)of Texas winning by wide margins of 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.
10 rounds Super Welterweight
Brandon Adams (26-4-0, 16KOs), Watts, CA UD (99-91, 98-92, 98-92) Serhii Bohachuk (26-3-0, 24KOs), Ukraine
10 rounds Heavyweight
Jermaine Franklin Jr (24-2-0, 15KOs), Saginaw, MI UD (97-92, 96-93, 95-94) Ivan Dychko (15-1-0, 14KOs), Kazakhstan
10 rounds
Raiko Santana (13-4-0, 7KOs), Cuba TKO 1 Steven Nelson (20-2-0, 16KOs), Omaha, NE
6 rounds Super Featherweight
Reito Tsutsumi (3-0, 2KOs), Tokyo, JPN TKO 1 Javier Martinez (7-3-0, 4KOs), Dallas, TX
6-rounds Middleweight
Marco Verde (3-0, 2KOs), Mazatlán, MX TKO 4 Sona Akale (9-4-0, 4KOs), MN, USA
Curtain raiser: 4 rounds Super Featherweight
Sultan Almohammed (1-0-0), Riyadh, KSA UD against Martin Caraballo (0-1-1), FL, USA
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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