Canelo Alvarez Undeterred by Riyadh Airport Attacks Ahead of October 31 Fight
Turki Alalshikh says Canelo contacted him directly to confirm his WBC super middleweight title defense will go ahead as planned.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has no intention of pulling out of his October 31 fight in Riyadh despite attacks on King Khalid International Airport on October 10 and 11, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh confirmed.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the first strike, per Reuters. Alalshikh said Alvarez reached out to him directly to confirm the WBC super middleweight title defense against Christian Mbilli will proceed at The Venue in Riyadh.
"He fears nothing," Alalshikh wrote on X on Saturday, per Sherdog. He thanked Alvarez for his support and described the gesture as a sign of their friendship, adding, "Hard times reveal true friends."
The fight was already confirmed before the attacks. FightBanter reported last week that Alvarez and Mbilli had agreed to the October 31 date. The airport incidents raised questions about whether international fighters and their teams would still travel to the region, but Alvarez's camp has not wavered.
Alvarez, widely considered the top pound-for-pound boxer in the sport, has fought in Saudi Arabia before as part of Alalshikh's Riyadh Season boxing series. His willingness to stay the course signals confidence in the security arrangements, even as the situation develops.
I respect the toughness, but I'll be watching the situation between now and October 31. The attacks on the Riyadh airport are serious, and there's a difference between being brave and being reckless. Right now, Canelo's camp clearly feels the security infrastructure is solid enough to proceed. Alalshikh has invested billions in making Riyadh a combat sports destination, and he's not going to let anything jeopardize that.
From a pure boxing standpoint, the Mbilli fight is a meaningful one. Mbilli is young, aggressive and unbeaten, and he'll come forward with bad intentions. Canelo at 36 still has the timing and the counterpunching to handle that style, but it's a real fight. Whether it happens in Riyadh or gets relocated, I expect Canelo to get it done. But keep your eyes on the news between now and fight week.
KEEP TALKING FIGHTS.
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