CHRISTIAN Mbilli meets Maciej Sulecki for the WBC Interim super-middleweight title on Friday evening (June 27) in Quebec, Canada. It feels like Mbilli’s career is starting to heat up now as the business end approaches.
While it’s unfortunate that the ordered Mbilli-Diego Pacheco fight didn’t come off as anticipated (Pacheco decided that he had other avenues to pursue), Mbilli, 28-0 (23 KOs), is carrying on regardless. Wins over the likes of Demond Nicholson, Carlos Gongora, and, most recently, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, have helped him to reach a sink-or-swim position.
Next up, Poland’s 36-year-old Sulecki, 33-3 (13 KOs), has faced a number of quality fighters across his 15-year career, offering a reliably sturdy workout. The only fighter who has really stamped his authority and put Sulecki away in style is Diego Pacheco. No shame there, Pacheco is a talented operator.
Is this Mbilli’s most accomplished opponent so far? Quite possibly. Back in 2018, arriving off the back of a win over Jack Culcay, Sulecki challenged Danny Jacobs and wasn’t afraid to launch a few bombs to keep the fight entertaining. He arrives in Canada on good form too, having upset Ali Akhmedov in Kazakhstan, dropping and stopping the 29-year-old.
Mbilli, like many of his contemporaries, is stuck in a title stalemate as he waits for Canelo to finish his business and drop a few crumbs (belts) for everyone below to scrap over. Until Canelo exits the sport, or at least the division, all the lesser beings can do is keep winning and try to make a case to be elevated as an opponent.
Eye of the Tiger management has done a great job maturing several fighters into practical contenders and standalone headliners on Thursday night ESPN shows. Mbillli is one of those fighters. He has been exposed to a number of styles along the way.
Mbilli is aggressive, straight-forward and unafraid to mix it up and see who comes out on top. So far, he has, every time. Whether that remains when he reaches the very top is a matter for debate. While Sulecki is no spring-footed technician, he will look to get the jab pumping and catch Mbilli in between the lines.
You’d imagine that moving too much against a boxer who works with high volume is a fool’s errand. At some point, Sulecki will have to stand and use his own size and physicality. That’s where this one will become interesting.
Other Canadian punchers, like David Lemieux, Erik Bazinyan, and Steven Butler, have looked impressive before finding their respective levels. Mbilli hasn’t reached that point yet or “levelled out” so we’re not entirely sure exactly where he sits regarding true world level.
It’s time to maximise his style and get the most out of it before the burnout comes or a roadblock appears, because that will happen at some point. How he deals with it will determine his ceiling.
Christian Mbilli vs. Maciej Sulecki Fight Prediction
I’ve seen a few sniffy comments around this matchup, but I see it as a good keep-busy outing for Mbilli against a proven contender. Yes, the better fighters have beaten Sulecki along the way. That’s why they are better fighters. Mbilli’s job is to add his name to that list.
I expect him to do so. Sulecki is resilient yet sliding towards the back end of his 30s. ‘Solide’ Mbilli will be primed and prepped to travel the full 12, pushing Sulecki onto the back foot at every opportunity.
The Pole lost on points to Danny Jacobs (as mentioned) and Demetrius Andrade. Only Diego Pacheco stopped him in round six with body shots. Mbilli will be eager to match or better that result. I don’t think he’ll manage it and pick the French-Cameroonian to prevail on points.
Christian Mbilli vs. Maciej Sulecki Undercard
Steven Butler was supposed to box Erik Bazinyan in an intriguing domestic clash. Bazinyan pulled out and Butler now faces dependable Mexican Jose Macias.
Arslanbek Makhmudov is trying to become a credible heavyweight contender once more as he takes on 12-0 Canada-based Jamaican Ricardo Brown.
Jhon Orobio, Christopher Guerrero and Wilkens Mathieu also feature as the next batch of prospects to come through.
