Mexico’s Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez reclaimed the WBC super-middleweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over the previously unbeaten Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Saturday night.

The fight went ahead at Kingdom Arena despite a week of heightened security concerns in the Saudi capital, where the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted missiles and drones launched by Iran-aligned Houthi forces. Several events in the kingdom were cancelled or postponed, including the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition.

Álvarez, 36, fighting for the first time in more than a year, relied on his trademark counter-punching and precise body shots to overcome the aggressive French champion and re-establish himself among boxing’s elite.

The judges scored the contest 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 in favor of the Mexican. (The Guardian had it 117-110 .)

“It’s something unbelievable. It feels like my first title. Now, after 21 years as a professional, 16 years ago I won my first title. Now I won that title again.…