Canelo Vs. Mbilli Still On Despite Attacks; Undercard In Limbo
Canelo Alvarez’s (63-3-2, 39 KOs) world title fight against WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) remains scheduled for October 31 in Riyadh, despite continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and mounting uncertainty surrounding the undercard.
The event is expected to proceed at Kingdom Arena even after the U.S. State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia following attacks on civilian infrastructure. A recent attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, severely disrupting international travel.
Other events, like the Kings Slam tennis show, have been postponed. The Canelo vs. Mbilli event is scheduled to proceed, but uncertainty remains over travel arrangements for some participants on the card.
Coach Robert Garcia, for instance, said his team has yet to receive travel arrangements for Lindolfo Delgado, who is scheduled to face Artur Biyarslanov for the vacant IBF super lightweight championship on the undercard.
“We’ve been waiting all weekend,” Garcia said this week. “We don’t have no flights. We don’t have no information. So honestly, I don’t really know what’s going to happen.”
Garcia also raised concerns about the safety of undercard fighters who may not have access to the private flights and security arrangements available to Alvarez.
Despite the uncertainty, organizers have insisted the event will proceed, with fight-week activities scheduled to begin on October 28.
Due to security concerns, commentators and broadcast staff will be based in a London studio for the event rather than travel to Riyadh.