Canelo Alvarez will still fight in Riyadh this October despite a series of deadly attacks on the city’s international airport, Saudi adviser and boxing matchmaker Turki Alalshikh confirmed on Sunday. The WBC super-middleweight champion is set to face the unbeaten Christian Mbilli on 31 October at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.
The announcement comes after a strike on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday killed 13 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi officials. A second attack on the airport soon after claimed another life and injured about a dozen more. Both attacks were claimed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, marking the third and fourth strikes on the airport in five days. The airport has since been closed, with Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, estimating that 60 per cent of scheduled flights will be cancelled on Monday.
The Houthis blamed the Saudi government for a recent strike on the airport in Sanaa, the rebel-held Yemeni capital, escalating the conflict in the region. The intensifying war has raised concerns about increased US military involvement, with former US president Donald Trump saying he was considering joining the fight against the Houthis, though there was no official White House comment on Sunday.
Despite the security situation, Alalshikh said Canelo had personally reassured him that the fight would go ahead. Writing on X, the Saudi adviser said, “Canelo reached out and told me he’ll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens. He fears nothing.” Alalshikh added, “My country is home to the two Holy Mosques, land of peace, safety, rich civilization, deep history, and kind-hearted people.”
The 36-year-old Mexican boxer will defend his title against Mbilli, a rising French fighter who remains unbeaten. The event’s undercard was revealed on the same day as one of the airport attacks last Thursday, drawing criticism from some in the boxing community over the timing. The undercard features a “Mexico vs the Rest of the World” theme, with fellow Mexicans Jaime Munguia, Rafael Espinoza, and David Picasso all scheduled to fight.
This will be the second time Canelo has competed in Saudi Arabia. He previously fought William Scull in Riyadh in May 2025, winning that bout on points. His last fight was a decision loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025 in Las Vegas, an undisputed title fight that ended Crawford’s career. Canelo has not fought since undergoing elbow surgery following that match.
The upcoming bout in Riyadh will test the ability of the Saudi authorities to ensure safety amid ongoing regional tensions, while also serving as a significant event for boxing fans eager to see Canelo return to the ring. Alalshikh thanked those who had offered support in difficult times, writing, “Thank you to everyone who checked in and showed support. Hard times reveal true friends.”
According to Yahoo Sports.
