Canelo Álvarez to fight Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Oct 31 despite deadly attacks, Turki al‑Sheikh says
Canelo Álvarez intends to go ahead with his WBC super-middleweight title fight against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on 31 October, Turki al-Sheikh said on Sunday, despite a series of deadly strikes on Saudi infrastructure.
A missile strike on Riyadh’s main international airport on Saturday killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300, and a second projectile struck a passenger terminal on Sunday, the Saudi-led military coalition said, reporting further injuries without providing a figure. India’s embassy later reported that one of its citizens had died from injuries sustained in the attack, potentially raising the death toll to 13, and the airport remained closed while several international airlines suspended flights; the US government urged American citizens to avoid the facility and its surrounding area. The Houthis, who have claimed responsibility for attacks on airports and energy facilities across the kingdom, have warned airlines and travellers against entering Saudi airspace, and Saudi officials described Saturday’s strike as the deadliest attack on a Gulf Arab country since the outbreak of the war with Iran.
Turki al-Sheikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and a prominent figure in the sport, said on social media that Álvarez had personally assured him he would still travel to Riyadh. “Canelo reached out and told me he’ll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens,” Al-Sheikh wrote. “He fears nothing. My country is home to the two Holy Mosques, land of peace, safety, rich civilization, deep history and kind-hearted people. Thank you to everyone who checked in and showed support. Hard times reveal true friends.”
Álvarez, 36, is scheduled to challenge the unbeaten Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title on 31 October; Mbilli has won all 29 of his professional fights, 24 by knockout. The bout would be Álvarez’s first fight since losing a unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in September 2025 and follows a previous appearance in Riyadh in May 2025.
Speaking on a Zoom call with the Guardian and other reporters, Álvarez acknowledged his focus had faltered before the Crawford fight. “When you lose, you always look back and look [at] your mistakes,” Álvarez said. “I did a very good preparation for [the] Crawford fight, but in the fight week, my mind wasn’t there.”
Álvarez has been preparing for his comeback on Spain’s Mediterranean coast at the same facility used by Oleksandr Usyk and said he had altered his schedule to manage the time difference in Saudi Arabia, adding he now believes he needs 21 days to adjust fully to the change in time zones. He also described Mbilli as a relentless, high-volume puncher whose aggressive style should make for a crowd-pleasing contest.
Álvarez’s professional record stands at 63 wins, three defeats and two draws, including 39 knockouts, and he said he would not put a timetable on retirement. “I don’t know how many more fights,” he said. “I don’t know because I feel really good.”
The fight remains scheduled for 31 October in Riyadh and, if it proceeds, will represent Álvarez’s return to the ring following his September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford.