Christian Mbilli

Christian Mbilli, nicknamed “Solide,” is a Cameroonian-French professional boxer competing in the super middleweight division. Born on April 26, 1995, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, he relocated to France with his parents in 2006, Mbilli fights in an orthodox stance and resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mbilli’s passion for boxing was ignited after his family’s move to France. He immersed himself in the sport, rapidly ascending the amateur ranks. His dedication culminated in representing France at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he advanced to the third bout before elimination. Throughout his amateur career, Mbilli amassed over 80 fights, including notable victories in the World Series of Boxing.

Christian Mbilli made his professional debut on March 18, 2017, in Paris, France, scoring a first-round TKO over Adrian Orban. One of his early breakout performances came in 2019 when he stopped Mexican veteran Humberto Gutiérrez in the second round. In 2021, Mbilli made a strong impression on the international stage by stopping Ronald Ellis—who had gone the distance with David Benavidez—in just four rounds. His 2022 win over Nadjib Mohammedi by fourth-round TKO. In 2023, Mbilli continued his surge by outpointing former IBO world champion Carlos Gongora in a hard-fought unanimous decision victory. Later that year, he scored a fourth-round knockout over Demond Nicholson, a known durable opponent. The momentum carried into 2024 when he demolished Rohan Murdock in six rounds in January. In June, he produced one of the most moments of his career—a 40-second body-shot.

Christian Mbilli trains out of Montreal under the direction of renowned coach Marc Ramsay at the Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) gym, one of Canada’s top boxing institutions. He shares the gym floor with elite-level fighters such as Erik Bazinyan and Wilkens Mathieu, sparring in an environment that constantly simulates fight-night intensity. Recently, the addition of British light heavyweight Lyndon Arthur—who went twelve rounds with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol—has elevated the sparring sessions even further. Arthur’s presence brings international championship experience to the gym, offering Mbilli a different look in camp: rangy jabs.

Montreal, for Mbilli, isn’t just a base—it’s home. The connection runs deeper than training. It’s in the way the city supports him, and how seamlessly he moves through its bilingual culture. From the street gyms to center stage, Mbilli is embraced as a local figure. He represents more than a boxer; he represents the idea that the French language—rooted in Cameroon, molded in France, and lived in Quebec—can travel across continents.

Delving into the art of boxing, our subject, donned in the distinguished red shirt, showcases a profound understanding of the Russian school of boxing. Despite not hailing from Russia or Eastern Europe, he embodies the essence of their boxing style, having been mentored by Soviet coaches now based in Canada. Analyzing his strategic approach, we witness the red-shirted pugilist masterfully controlling distance with a precise jab, a hallmark of the Russian school. When adversaries encroach too closely, he elegantly employs his jab to maintain a calculated separation. A nod to his training roots, we observe the influence of Russian karate footwork, a technique that channels the entire weight into each punch.

Diving deeper into his repertoire, he expertly executes rear-hand feints, a powerful element ingrained in the Russian boxing tradition. Skillfully threatening and strategically executing hooks, he adeptly avoids the ropes – a technique learned from Soviet Olympic preparations, emphasizing the art of unsettling opponents by disrupting their balance. As the rounds progress, we witness the red-shirted maestro employing various tactics to unbalance his opponent. Employing the jab to control distance persists, but it’s complemented by nuanced feints and a distinctive in-and-out footwork style