Canelo Alvarez to face Christian Mbilli for WBC title in Riyadh

Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez is set to return to the ring on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title. The event, part of the Riyadh Season, is billed as ‘Mexico vs. The World’ and features several other world title fights, including Jaime Munguia defending his WBA super middleweight title against Nikita Zon and Rafael Espinoza defending the WBO featherweight title.

Álvarez, 36, is returning to action following a loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025 and a period of inactivity due to elbow surgery and family matters. He expressed excitement about the matchup, suggesting the aggressive style of Mbilli could make it the ‘fight of the year.’

Looking beyond the Mbilli fight, Álvarez indicated a desire to maintain a more active schedule, potentially fighting again in February. He also expressed a strong interest in a rematch with Terence Crawford, stating he has analyzed his previous mistakes and hopes for a second opportunity to compete against him.