Canelo Alvarez to proceed with Riyadh fight despite Saudi airport attacks

Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez has confirmed he will proceed with his WBC super middleweight title fight against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on October 31, despite recent security concerns in Saudi Arabia.

Following a missile attack on King Khalid International Airport that resulted in at least 12 deaths and hundreds of injuries, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, stated that Álvarez personally reached out to reassure him of his commitment. Alalshikh noted that the Mexican boxer ‘fears nothing’ and intends to compete regardless of the situation.

The bout is part of the Riyadh Season programming. The fight follows Álvarez’s September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford, and Mbilli holds the WBC title following Crawford’s retirement.