Canelo Alvarez Taps Usyk Conditioning Team Ahead of Mbilli Fight
The 36-year-old is training in Spain with Usyk's fitness specialists before his October 31 bout in Riyadh.
Canelo Alvarez has enlisted the conditioning team behind Oleksandr Usyk as he prepares for his October 31 clash with Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 36-year-old is training in Gandia, Spain, with Eddy Reynoso handling the boxing work while outside fitness specialists focus on strength and conditioning. Canelo said the collaboration has opened his eyes to new methods.
"In strength and conditioning, I am learning new things," Canelo told The Ring, per Boxing News 24. "I appreciate them because they put all of their energy into me."
The move comes at a pivotal moment in Canelo's career. He is returning from over a year of inactivity following a loss to Terence Crawford and subsequent surgery on his left elbow. He acknowledged feeling "really weird" after his early morning bout with William Scull, and training in Spain has helped him adjust to the time difference ahead of the Riyadh card.
Canelo has also made a practical request to promoter Turki Alalshikh: schedule his ring walk no later than midnight or 1 a.m. local time. Saudi Arabia cards have become notorious for late start times that can throw off a fighter's rhythm.
Mbilli presents a serious test for Canelo's return. The Canadian is known for his relentless pressure and high punch volume, the kind of style that can expose an aging fighter who has been on the shelf. Whether Usyk's movement-based conditioning drills translate to Canelo's counterpunching approach remains the central question heading into fight week.
This is the kind of move you make when you know you need help. Canelo bringing in Usyk's conditioning people tells you everything about where his head is at. He knows the Crawford loss exposed his cardio, he knows the layoff did not help, and he knows Mbilli is going to come forward for twelve rounds throwing heat.
I respect the honesty. A lot of fighters would never admit they need to learn new things at 36, but Canelo has always been smart about his career even when people question his matchmaking. The problem is that conditioning work done in the final weeks of camp is not going to undo years of wear and tear.
Mbilli is dangerous because he does not care about Canelo's name. He is going to walk through the jab and force exchanges in the second half of the fight. If Canelo fades the way he did against Crawford, this gets ugly. I still think Canelo's skill advantage carries him through the first eight rounds. The question is whether he has anything left for the championship rounds. Usyk's team might be the difference.
