Gardzielik was dropped and lost every round on all three scorecards. Nmomah offered limited resistance before being stopped in the ninth. Huerta went the distance but lost 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91. Those victories showed Mielnicki can dominate carefully selected opposition. They did not demonstrate that he is prepared for a championship fight.

Top Rank moved Mielnicki methodically by matching him against fighters with attractive records but little recognition in the United States. The approach helped him collect regional belts and climb the sanctioning-body rankings without facing anyone near the top of the middleweight class.

The more revealing performances came against Khalil El Harraz and Connor Coyle. Mielnicki edged El Harraz by majority decision and then struggled to a majority draw with Coyle. The New York State Athletic Commission later changed the Coyle result to a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but the ruling did not erase what happened during those 10 rounds.

Mielnicki believes beating Williams would answer criticism of rankings that place him No. 3 with the WBO, No. 7 with the WBA and WBC, and No. 9 with the IBF.

“I feel like having a name like him on my resume will silence a lotta that,” Mielnicki told Keith Idec of The Ring.

Williams (20-2, 13 KOs) is a considerable upgrade. The physically strong southpaw applies pressure and can make Mielnicki fight while moving backward, an area that the trio was not equipped to test. Mielnicki must show that his footwork and inside game hold up when an opponent closes the distance and refuses to remain at his preferred pace.

Still, beating Williams would not establish Mielnicki as one of the best at 160. Hamzah Sheeraz stopped Williams, and Carlos Adames defeated him decisively over 12 rounds. Williams occupies the middle of the first tier: capable enough to expose a protected contender, but well below the elite.

That makes him an appropriate screening test. A Mielnicki loss in his New Jersey backyard would make his lofty rankings difficult to defend. A convincing win would earn him the opportunity to face the leading middleweights, not prove he is ready to beat them.

Canelo Alvarez is set to challenge for the WBC super-middleweight world title next month, looking to re-establish himself as the man to beat in the 168lb division. World-renowned trainer Robert Garcia has laid out his prediction for the fight, as well as what the future might hold.

Canelo became the first undisputed world champion in the history of the super-middleweight division when he finished off an eleven-month run of collecting belts by knocking out Caleb Plant back in 2021. He defended his four belts on five occasions.

Alvarez then dropped the IBF super-middleweight crown but soon trumped William Scull to win it back and become a two-time undisputed ruler, before losing all four of his belts to Terence Crawford in an iconic showdown 12 months ago. Crawford retired shortly afterwards, scattering the titles.

Since then, Canelo has been sidelined due to an elbow injurywhilst Mbilli has been elevated from interim status to full WBC world champion, with former opponent Lester Martinez taking his place as Interim titleholder.

Robert Garcia – who trains the likes of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Vergil Ortiz Jr – recently told YSM Sports Media that he believes Canelo will win his title back against Mbilli, before outlining his hopes to see Canelo take on Guatemala’s Martinez at the near 90,000-capacity Estadio Azteca.

“I think that Canelo does have enough to beat Mbilli and then Canelo versus Lester [Martinez] would be one of the biggest fights in history, it is two countries against each other, two countries that are going to celebrate a big event in a huge soccer stadium – that would be huge.

“From what I understand, they want Canelo at Estadio Azteca. Imagine him versus Lester at the Estadio Azteca, it would be unbelievable.”

The Estadio Azteca has twice staged boxing events, first hosting Vicente Saldivar’s unified featherweight title defence against Howard Winstone in 1965 and then Julio Cesar Chavez’s famous victory over Greg Haugen in front of a record-breaking 132,247 spectators in 1993.

Martinez, following his latest stoppage win over Luka Plantic, made no secret of his desire to face the winner of Mbilli-Canelo.

Martinez was much more effective and landed the harder punches. Lester had the support of the Guatemalan people with a healthy attendance of 6,848 at the USC Galen Center. The interim WBC super middleweight champion is the only boxing champion of any kind for Guatemala; Martinez is held in high esteem, receiving the full support of his country. After the victory, he celebrated at Lafayette Park at the Festival Chapin with his fellow countrymen.

ProBox promoter Garry Jonas stated at the post-fight press conference they’re exploring the options of holding a Lester Martinez fight at a soccer stadium somewhere in Guatemala, hopefully for January of 2027. The energy and crowd at the Galen Center was electrifying as the crowd would erupt in cheers every time Lester would land a big punch.

Holding an event in Guatemala would definitely draw a crowd. Lester is becoming a bigger star with every fight, and if he’s able to secure a fight with the winner of the Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli fight, he would only become that much bigger. Trainer Esau Dieguez said of the fight, “The truth is we would like to face the winner, but because of name recognition and what it would bring, we would like to fight Canelo. Being that we already fought Mbilli, but I expect Canelo to win. I think Canelo will win, I hope we can make the fight. I know the WBC may beat around the bush, but our hope is Lester will fight for the full world title.”

It was the fight against Mbilli that raised Lester’s profile and introduced him to the world. Although it was ruled a draw, there are many who believe Martinez should have been awarded the decision. Lester stood toe-to-toe with the power puncher, exchanging punch for punch with him. Martinez outlanded Mbilli 412 to 273 in total punches, outlanding him in 9 of 12 rounds (Compubox).

He tried securing the rematch with Christian, but the fight never materialized. Expecting a tough fight against the Canelo-Mbilli winner, Lester said, “I think for now I will relax, but I know what is coming will be more difficult, and we will prepare for it.”

Knowing that he will have to perform at his absolute best against whomever the winner may be. Lester has proven he has the skills to compete at the championship level, and he has the full support of an entire country with him in Guatemala; they want nothing more than to have their first full world champion.