Boxing: In Riyadh, Frenchman Mbilli faces Mexican legend "Canelo".
Despite missile and drone strikes targeting the country, the fight between Christian Mbilli and "Canelo" Alvarez is set to go ahead on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, with the Frenchman challenging the Mexican icon to defend his WBC super middleweight title.
Published on:
4 min Reading time
Initially announced with great fanfare at the foot of the Giza pyramids last spring, this event has been surrounded by numerous rumors of postponement or relocation before being confirmed on October 8.
Two days later, an attack attributed to the Houthis targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resulted in 13 deaths and over 300 injuries: the deadliest incident on Saudi soil in more than a decade.
Following this, several major international events planned in the kingdom were canceled. Nevertheless, the influential promoter Turki Alalshikh assured that the fight would take place in the Saudi capital as scheduled, just the day after the attack.
"Canelo told me he would be in Riyadh in October, no matter the circumstances. He fears nothing", tweeted the president of the General Entertainment Authority.
"Another story"
The Houthis and Saudi forces have been exchanging strikes regularly since the resumption of the conflict in Yemen in July. Riyadh was rocked again on Thursday by explosions, but this did not prevent the pre-fight press conference from taking place in the evening. No comments on the political context were made during the event.
Christian Mbilli, who arrived in Riyadh after a 32-hour journey from Quebec where he trains, simply stated he is "ready to surprise the world".
"I have immense respect for Canelo and his entire career, but on Saturday, it will be another story and I will come for the victory", he asserted.
Former champion in the (-76.2 kg) category and the first undisputed super middleweight champion in the era of four belts, Canelo lost his title to American Terence Crawford in September 2025 during a high-profile fight in Saudi Arabia.
In the meantime, Mbilli, who held the interim title since June 2025, was elevated to the status of official WBC champion following Crawford's retirement.
For the first time since 2022, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (63 wins including 39 by KO, 3 losses, 2 draws) will therefore enter the ring as a challenger.
"Entering history"
"I don't like to take shortcuts. I have been champion for many years, I want to become champion again and I want to face the best", said the 36-year-old Mexican on Thursday. "I am the challenger today, but in my mind, I am still the champion, since I was a little kid".
Throughout his 532 rounds of boxing since turning professional over 20 years ago, Canelo has never been knocked down, even against the hardest hitters, including Mbilli (29 wins including 24 by KO, 1 draw).
However, the Frenchman claims he has what it takes to surpass the Mexican legend, who has been champion in four different weight classes. "I can't go into too much detail about the strategy, but I think his age could play a role", he told AFP during his training camp. "I am 31 years old and he is 36, but professionally, I have only had 30 fights, while he has had 68…"
"He has been boxing professionally since he was 15, and in our field, that represents a huge amount of experience. I think that shows in his fights. Until 2020 or 2021, he dominated all his opponents, and since then, he almost always goes to decision."
"I am improving while he is declining", he added.
By facing the mountain that is Canelo, even in decline, Mbilli is measuring himself against one of the iconic figures of modern boxing. During a visit to Paris in 2024, he told AFP: "Canelo is a kind of legend of our time. Beating a Canelo would be entering history".
More from this section
JOJ Dakar 2026: Khaby Lame and Omar Sy chosen as ambassadors for the final stretch of the flame.
The Dakar rally-raid will take place in January 2027 in Portugal and Morocco.
These athletes and global celebrities who emerged during the Youth Olympic Games
Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane, the rise of an extraordinary player
Badminton: Christo Popov becomes the first French player to reach the world number one ranking
