Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki Predictions: Underrated Mbilli gets another tough guy

The quietly effective Christian Mbilli fights for a sort-of world title this Friday, June 27 when he faces Polish contender Maciej Sulecki. The fight takes place at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec for the WBC interim championship. 

The undercard features troubled heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov and world-ranked super middleweight Erik Bazinyan. American fans can watch the show live on ESPN+ while UK audiences await the announcement of a television provider.

Here are my Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki predictions ahead of this Canadian clash.

Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki Odds

Mbilli is a huge 1/28 favourite for this one. Sulecki is seen as a fighter in decline as far as the market goes, with a 12/1 chance of victory. The draw is priced at 20/1

Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki Fight Preview

This fight is for the WBC interim championship. Interim titles were originally devised as placeholders if the reigning kingpin was unable to defend their belt due to injury or unforeseen circumstances. But now they have a more sinister use.

Take the heavyweight division for example. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois hold the four main titles between them. The two will meet (again) to crown an undisputed champion (again) next month. Neither are inactive. They literally have a fight coming up. Yet, the heavyweight division currently recognises two interim champions and a ‘regular’ champion outside of Usyk and Dubois.

This is because unifications, as much as fans crave them, fighters cherish them and journalists welcome their clarity, are not in the interests of the sanctioning cartels. A champion having three or four belts means less defences and less sanctioning fees.

Which explains why this spurious interim designation is on the line for Mbilli and Sulecki. Undisputed super middleweight champion Saul Canelo Alvarez is not injured. The Mexican has just beaten William Scull and is scheduled to face Terence Crawford in September. Canelo is incredibly active. But the WBC and the WBA, who have Armando Resendiz as their interim boss, want to scoop up those sweet sanctioning fees.

The chances of the winner of Friday’s fight, or Resendiz for that matter, ever fighting Canelo are slim. But in the case of Mbilli, that is a crying shame.

The Frenchman, who now resides in heavily-Francophone Quebec, rarely gets the credit or attention his efforts deserve. Last time out, Mbilli beat former world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko widely on points. Yet, people questioned why he failed to do what Gennady Golovkin, Carlos Adames, Danny Jacobs and Jermall Charlo could not.

Derevyanchenko has never been stopped in a career where he has fought the world’s very best. While the Ukrainian was carrying an injury, his legendary toughness made a stoppage unlikely at best.

Mbilli knocked out Mark Heffron, Rohan Murdock and Demond Nicholson in his most recent fights leading into the Derevyanchenko win. He has also stopped former world title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi. Mbilli might not be the finished article, but he is improving at a rate of knots.

To take the next step, Mbilli must impress against 36-year-old Pole Sulecki. The veteran lost a 2019 WBO title challenge to Demetrius Andrade on points. Jacobs also holds a unanimous decision win over Sulecki. But the Warsaw man has beaten ex-world champion Jack Culcay and hardened contender Gabriel Rosado.

Sulecki appeared to be settling into a bit of a gatekeeper role when California phenom Diego Pacheco put him out in six rounds last year. But a surprise triumph over Ali Akhmedov via a dominant 10th-round stoppage in February put the train back on the track.

This is the sort of thankless task Mbilli’s career has been littered with. A tricky fight against a hard-as-nails opponent, but one where if he wins the praise will not be lavish. Detractors will say Sulecki is on the wane. 

But I put it to them that the fact Sulecki has only lost to Jacobs, Andrade and Pacheco is a testament to the Polish boxer. You have to be world class to beat this guy. If Mbilli gets the win, he joins an exclusive club. Perhaps the next stop will be a genuine world title belt.

Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki Full Card

Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki

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Jhon Orobio vs Zsolt Osadan

Wilkens Mathieu vs Adagio McDonald

Steven Butler vs Jose de Jesus Macias

Christopher Guerrero vs Sandy Messaoud

Luis Santana vs Eduardo Estela

Moreno Fendero vs Billi Facundo Godoy

Wyatt Sanford vs Mark Andrejev

Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki Prediction

We have just seen Mbilli battle a man who has only lost to the best in Derevyanchenko. Now he gets another tricky night with a durable opponent who has bags of world class experience. But I do think this one goes slightly differently.

Derevyanchenko is impossible to shift, we know that. But punch-perfect Pacheco laid down the blueprint needed for finishing Sulecki. The 24-year-old prospect used body punches. I think Mbilli can switch attacks upstairs and down to try and create openings. When those gaps come, the Frenchman cannot flinch. If he takes his chances, I see a stoppage for Mbilli in round 10 at 14/1.

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