Major Boxing Match Delayed
Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli WBC Title Fight Postponed to Late October in Riyadh
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Key Points
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Canelo Alvarez has not fought since his September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford and underwent elbow surgery, with his return delayed to the fall of 2026 (sidelined through the rest of 2025 and into 2026).
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Mbilli rose from interim to full WBC super middleweight champion in January after Crawford’s retirement, having captured the interim title in June 2025 with a first‑round knockout of Maciej Sulecki.
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Mbilli’s latest action before this bout was a split draw with Lester Martinez on the Crawford‑Alvarez undercard, illustrating the level of recent competition he has faced as a reigning champion.
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The postponement breaks Alvarez’s five-year pattern of fighting around major September boxing weekends, marking a departure from his usual schedule for this marquee clash.
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The move is tied to Riyadh Season’s boxing calendar expansion, with officials not citing a specific reason and the October date not yet firmings, leaving the exact timing unresolved.
Canelo Alvarez's comeback fight against WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli has been pushed back from September 12 to late October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to Ring Magazine. The postponement breaks Alvarez's decade-long tradition of headlining Mexican Independence Day weekend — and delays what is already his longest layoff in years.
Alvarez, 35, has not fought since losing his undisputed 168-pound crown to Terence Crawford by unanimous decision on September 13, 2025. He then had elbow surgery in October 2025, sidelinig him for roughly 13 months by the time the new date arrives, Sports Illustrated reported.
How Mbilli Became the Man Alvarez Must Beat
Mbilli did not start 2026 as the full WBC champion. He earned the interim title in June 2025 with a first-round knockout of Maciej Sulecki. Then, on September 13, 2025, he fought Lester Martinez to a split draw on the Crawford-Alvarez undercard. That kept his belt intact. When Crawford retired, the WBC promoted Mbilli to full champion on January 27, 2026, according to Boxing News 24.
Mbilli enters the fight undefeated at 29-0-1 with 24 knockouts. The French-Cameroonian fighter has been blunt about his intentions. "Canelo is a legend, but his time has passed," Mbilli said. "I will be the one to finally retire him."
Riyadh Season's Calendar Forced the Date Change
Saudi Arabia's entertainment authority did not give a specific reason for moving the fight, but the shift fits a clear pattern. The kingdom is using the bout as a marquee event to open its 2026-2027 Riyadh Season in late October, rather than competing with the crowded early-September U.S. sports calendar, NY Fights reported. Turki Al-Sheikh, the chairman who controls the Riyadh Season boxing calendar, secured Alvarez on a four-fight deal in late 2025.
The September 12 slot has not gone to waste. A Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn fight is now expected to fill that date in Las Vegas, according to Ring Magazine. That swap lets Riyadh Season hold the year's biggest commercial event in October without splitting the audience.
Alvarez Returns From His Longest Layoff Ever
Alvarez's elbow surgery in October 2025 removed bone fragments and sidelined him through the rest of that year and into 2026. By the time he steps into the ring in late October, he will have been out for 13 months — the longest gap of his 21-year career, Sports Illustrated noted. His record stands at 63-3-2. His last loss cost him every major world title at 168 pounds.
He was direct at the May 2026 press conference in Cairo. "Mbilli is a strong, aggressive fighter, but he has never been at this level," Alvarez said. "I am returning to show the world the king is still here." A win would put him back in title contention. A loss, veteran promoter Bob Arum warned, could bring his career to a crossroads, according to Boxing News 24.
What Is at Stake for the Whole Division
The 168-pound division is effectively frozen until this fight happens. Contenders like Jaime Munguia are waiting to see whether the WBC belt changes hands before mapping out their next moves, Sports Illustrated reported. A Terence Crawford rematch is also on the table — but sources say Crawford is demanding $100 million, a price that only makes sense if Alvarez wins in October.
The venue is the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, which hosted fights attended by more than 70,000 fans during previous Riyadh Season events. Roundtable noted the delay opens the door for a bigger undercard and higher global pay-per-view numbers on DAZN by avoiding NFL opening weekend. The exact October date has not been confirmed.
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