Christian Mbilli officially claimed the WBC super middleweight world title at the end of January. To celebrate, Eye of the Tiger invited the Cameroonian-French-Canadian boxer for a Q&A.

Pleased to be “the man to beat,” Mbilli reflected on this milestone after a decade of hard work, sharing his plans to eventually defend a world title in France.

France hadn’t had a male world champion since Nordine Oubaali (2019) and Arsen Goulamirian (2019–2023). Asked whether his achievement was getting the recognition it deserved, Mbilli said:

“It’s a bit complicated because I’ve been Franco-Canadian for two or three years now. I’m proud to be Québécois and to have integrated into this community. But I haven’t forgotten my Cameroonian roots or my French nationality. I want to thank the French media, like Flashscore, for covering my news. It’s tough to be present in all three places, but I do my best, and so does my team, reaching out to journalists worldwide. I’m really happy about that.”

He added: “In a few days, I’ll meet with my team to plan my next fight. I probably won’t box before May, so I’ll head back to France in a few weeks to visit my clubs, see my family, and do some press conferences. I never forget my French fans or the French national team who support me.”

In 2025, Mbilli had discussed a potential fight with Canelo Alvarez. With Terence Crawford’s recent victory reshaping the scene, Mbilli is now the regular WBC world champion. Asked if reaching this level felt overwhelming, he said:

“We made it! Thanks to my hard work, my team, my coaches, and the promotion company. It’s been 10 years of grinding, pushing through the pandemic, Canelo, politics, and more. We’re proud to be here, but the best is yet to come. There’s still a lot to achieve, and I’m truly grateful to the press for supporting me from the start.”

Many French fans hope to see him fight at home. Could that happen against Kevin Sadjo?

“Of course, I hope to fight in France. From my very first meeting with Camille Estephan, CEO of Eye of the Tiger, I shared my dream: to become world champion and defend my title in Quebec, Paris, and Yaoundé. Back then, the Bell Centre in Montreal was the go-to venue, but now it would likely be the Centre Vidéotron in Quebec City. In Paris, why not the Défense Arena? I still believe in that dream, and there’s a good chance a fight in France will happen if everything goes well.”

With a new generation of French boxers approaching world titles, Mbilli sees himself as a potential trailblazer:

“I hope so. Boxing in France is a bit short of breath right now. We lack media coverage. When we hold press conferences in Quebec, the local media turn up, but only one French outlet usually shows. Camille Estephan and Eye of the Tiger have done a lot to bring boxing into the spotlight, which is missing in France. Moving abroad was the best decision for my career, and I hope to set an example for French boxing, showing promoters that investing in talent is possible even across continents.”

Mbilli emphasizes that building a career is the real challenge for French boxers:

“I often tell young boxers: you have to leave France. I don’t say it lightly—there are no facilities, big names, or major promoters willing to commit to a long-term vision. Canada was in a similar situation, but thanks to Camille’s work, Quebec boxing revived, supported by a dedicated fanbase. I hope France can follow that model, and I’ll do everything I can to help make it happen.”