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Canelo vs Mbilli Saudi Fight Confirmed for Oct 31

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2026-09-19 20:44 UTC → 2026-09-19 23:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez is scheduled to face WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli on 31 October 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Originally slated for 12 September, the bout was postponed to align with the Riyadh Season calendar and following Álvarez citing family matters that delayed his training camp. Following his loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025 and subsequent elbow surgery, Álvarez returns to the ring as a challenger rather than a defending champion, as the WBC elevated Mbilli to full champion after Crawford’s retirement. Mbilli, an unbeaten fighter with a 29-0-1 record, has stated he intends to use an aggressive, high-volume style to exploit Álvarez’s perceived decline in stamina. Analysts have also questioned if the 36-year-old Álvarez can maintain the necessary pace to withstand Mbilli’s pressure. Ahead of the fight, the two fighters engaged in a verbal confrontation during a DAZN face-to-face event. Mbilli questioned Álvarez’s physical condition, suggesting the Mexican boxer has lost strength, while Álvarez asserted his superiority, stating that Mbilli would not be able to defeat him “even if he were 50 or 60 years old.” To prepare, Álvarez has moved his training camp to Gandía, in the Valencia region of Spain, for approximately eight weeks. This relocation is intended to help him adjust to the time difference in Saudi Arabia. This follows a period in Katowice, Poland, where Álvarez underwent metabolic and cardiovascular physical assessments at the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education. During his current camp in Spain, Álvarez has been training alongside Oleksandr Usyk. The bout will be broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view.

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